Dan Traynor Editorial Team @dantrays “As graduate students, we need to Emily Jones thinkEditor in Chiefmore & Creative broadly Director about the@Emily_G_Jones skills we acquireCaroline Konrad in our graduate studies, and @caroline_konrad Maurice Fernandes why we enjoy using them. I@MoeRecruits have candid Head Writer & Project Lead conversations with lots of professionalsNikki Waheed Rebecca Dirnfeld @nikkiwaheed to@rdirnfeld1 learn about different careers______and to understand how my particular skill set Editorial & Writing Team Research Lead wouldDena Marcos add value to their industry.Ambar Bin Soekardji This keeps@dena_marcos me motivated to engage in new Creative Design Team Herleen Arora @HerleenAroraexperiences and apply my skillsBrandon whileSloan I make a plan for how I can@brandonsloan achieve Luciana Longo my@lucianalongoll future career goals. Christopher,Donica Willis @donicawillis ContributingMolecular Authors Science PhD Program Tesni Ellis Athena Westlaken @tesniellis @AthenasWisdom

Chi-Chi Egbo @Chi_Egbo

A special thanks to individuals whose support led to the creation of this publication:

Dr. John Austin @JohnVAustin

Dr. Jennifer Mactavish @RUGradDean

Curtis Maloley @CurtisMaloley

Michelle Schwartz @MichelinaNeri

Lyn-Marie Farley @Lyn_MarieF

Don Kinder

ISBN 978-1-926769-91-2

© Career & Co-op Centre/Ryerson University Introduction

Welcome to the Graduate edition of Career Compass! Specifically geared to graduate students and graduate degree holders, our aim is to cover the full breadth of building a career for life - from understanding your career development process, to researching the ever evolving labour market, to securing your first - or fourth - position, and integrating lifelong learning into your journey.

Included is specific content for the job search as an international student or internationally trained professional, recognizing the unique aspects of pursuing careers in Canada, back home or within a third country.

More than 60% of graduate degree holders pursue a non-academic career path. In recognition of this, in- depth advisory is provided on both the academic and industry job search journeys, demonstrating the diverse range of rewarding careers available inside and outside of academia.

With self-employment and the entrepreneurial path an increasingly relevant and applicable option, an overview on taking your first steps down this road is enclosed.

To best illustrate the diversity of opportunities available to graduate degree holders, interviews with early and mid-career professionals, senior leaders and the recruiter perspective are included throughout, including individuals who have built careers cutting across both industry and academia.

The Graduate Career Compass’ goal is to be your compendium on navigating the intricate process of building your career, one job search at a time. With resources for further reading, data on the graduate student’s career path and voices from those who have already travelled in your shoes, we trust the GCC will prove to be an indispensable guide.

With best wishes for your career journey,

Sincerely,

Caroline Konrad

Editor in Chief & Creative Director, Graduate Career Compass

Director, Ryerson Career & Co-op Centre

Table of Contents

Career Planning - Initial Steps 7

The Academic and Non Academic Labour Market 8 Your Career Development Process 10 Navigating Change and Transition 14 1

The Academic Job Search 19

Academic Career Pathways 20 Building Your Professional Portfolio 22 Templates & Tips: Curriculum Vitae (CV) 27 2 Cover Letter 30 Your Job Search: From Networking to Interview 32

Pursuing an Industry Path 41

Understanding and Exploring Industry Routes 42 Building & Articulating a Transferable Skills Inventory 46 Template & Tips: Resume 49 3 Cover Letter 54 Your Job Search: From Online to Offline 57

Transitioning to Employment 65

Mentorship Options 66 Discovering Self-Employment & Entrepreneurship 68 Negotiating Job Offers 72 4 Managing & Maximizing Your Social Media 74

The Global Experience 79

International Opportunities: Points to Consider 80 International Graduates: Returning Home 82 5 Staying in Canada 84

Career Resources 87 Action Words by Skill Set 88 6 Templates: Cover Letters, Resumes, and CVs 92 “ As graduate students, we need to think more broadly about the skills we acquire in our graduate studies, and why we enjoy using them. I have candid conversations with lots of professionals to learn about different careers and to understand how my particular skill set would add value to their industry. This keeps me motivated to engage in new experiences and apply my skills while I make a plan for how I can achieve my future career goals.

Christopher, Molecular Science PhD Program 1

Career Planning - Initial Steps

The Academic and Non Academic Labour Market Your Career Development Process Navigating Change and Transition Planning a Obtaining a graduate Maintaining currency degree in the labour market Career for Life Building expertise in Honing thought How do graduate students plan for careers in and chosen field of study leadership skills outside of academia today? In fact, 40% of PhD graduates in Canada work in the post-secondary Conducting original Taking an innovator education sector after graduation, while 60% are research / problem solver moving into multiple industry career paths. There’s approach far more opportunity today for graduates to explore a diversity of roles in higher education and industries - on Developing high level Adapting key skills to average 15 jobs across three sectors over the course skills labour market needs of a career.

With markets evolving at a faster speed and new sectors Completing academic Continuing to train and developing like never before, careers no longer evolve education educate linearly. Throughout your career, you may choose to change jobs to develop new skills, gain further training, Consider how you will translate your academic receive mentorship, secure a higher salary, or simply experiences into language which resonates in the labour embark on new challenges. Instead of a ‘job for life’, market. Your ability to strategically, effectively, and it’s about building your ‘career for life’. persuasively communicate with employers will showcase how you are maintaining your currency As an advanced degree holder, you have the skills and adaptability. and training that our competitive, globalized market is seeking to capitalize on. For example, your Continuous Skills Based Learning highly developed analytical skills as a researcher are a coveted commodity used in market research, business Continuous learning programs are designed to development and product management, consulting, address changes in the economy and skill sets that quantitative analysis, communicative specialties, and can be useful for internationally trained professionals information technology - to name a few. and international students looking for work in Canada’s knowledge based labour market. Consider how the many other high level skills you’re honing traverse multiple industries. As you embark on As part of maintaining a mixed skill set, such as building your career for life, you will need to showcase interpersonal and technological skills, consider ongoing yourself as someone who can adapt to many different learning that builds on your expertise from your environments to be creative and produce solutions. graduate education. Professional certificates, technical These are key assets to any employer, both inside and training, and micro-credentials through continuing outside the academy. education are offered at colleges and universities, online, at training centres, and/or at the workplace.

Effective Career Planning The future of work in academic and non academic job markets is full of opportunity for graduate trained for the Labour Market professionals. Plan your career for life by staying current with the labour market and considering in what ways Keeping up to date with labour market information your skill sets and expertise add value to these will be a source of resilience for you as you navigate industries. the job market. Not only will you master the ebb and flow of your industry, but you will be adaptable to whatever changes arise. For example, an industry with The Academic emerging new technologies can heavily influence its own sector and others. and Non Academic Labour Market As globalisation and technology continue to influence labour market needs worldwide, there will be a demand for graduates with a diverse knowledge base and MORE THAN 70% OF FUTURE specialised skill sets. By continuing your research, and CANADIAN JOBS ARE EXPECTED actively pursuing skill development, education, and 70% TO REQUIRE POST SECONDARY training, you will be prepared for both the jobs of EDUCATION. today and in the future: - Council of Ontario Universities, 2015

8 | Career Planning - Initial Steps Q&A Voices of Experience

NAME Bryan Koivisto

JOB TITLE, COMPANY Associate Professor & Director of the Science Discovery Zone, Ryerson University

EDUCATION PhD, Chemistry (University of Victoria)

LINKEDIN Find me on LinkedIn to learn more about my career & education.

TWITTER @BryanKoivisto

HOW CAN GRADUATE STUDENTS Spend nearly equal amounts of time developing your transferable CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THEIR skills as you do your technical skills. These include: leadership, SKILLS, CURIOSITY, AND communication, collaboration, commitment, and teamwork. It is also best KNOWLEDGE TO STAY ADAPTABLE to practice these skills in interdisciplinary environments to encourage new AND RELEVANT FOR A FUTURE ways of thinking, perspective, and creativity. LABOUR MARKET?

HOW HAS YOUR COLLABORATION For most of my life I was an academic who focused on curiosity driven WITH THE PRIVATE, PUBLIC research and mentorship. More recently, I have invested time into AND/OR NOT-FOR-PROFIT networking with industry, and while it doesn’t always pay off at SECTORS SHAPED YOU AS A first, if you focus on building a good relationship, then you’ll see huge PROFESSIONAL? opportunities emerge. Collaboration with various communities gives you enormous perspective.

WHAT TIPS WOULD YOU There are few ‘career for life’ jobs anymore. Embrace change and work RECOMMEND TO SUCCESSFULLY to become more adaptable so you can be ready for the next paradigm PREPARE FOR A CHANGING shift. Find yourself and work towards a career where you are doing WORKFORCE, AND AN something that you love. What is your passion? EXPECTATION WITHIN THE LABOUR MARKET THAT THERE IS NOT ‘ONE CAREER FOR LIFE’?

HOW DO YOU SEE OUR WORKING Work patterns are impossible to predict, so instead of being PATTERNS CHANGING WITH THE reactionary, focus on being proactionary. Always be ready to play your FUTURE OF WORK? next shot, by being mindful of, and developing, your strengths.

WHAT HAS THE CHANGING We create our own opportunities. The current disruptive job market has NATURE OF RECRUITMENT fewer traditional type jobs, and with the future of AI, that will change even TAUGHT YOU ABOUT THE FUTURE more. The key to building your career for life is to build a network or OF JOB SEARCHING? create your own opportunities. While it seems risky at first, you’ll find that what you learn will be invaluable to you as a professional.

Career Planning - Initial Steps| 9 The Art of Designing Who am I: Below is a sample list of reflective questions to help bring Your Career self-awareness to your preferences: Personality: “Where your talents and the needs of the world cross; there lies your vocation.” - Aristotle • Would I prefer a job that provides time for solitude and reflection, or am I seeking a role heavily centred In an era where new technologies are creating labour on interacting with people? market change at a rapid pace, devote time to understanding what your talents and gifts are, and • Would I prefer a structured or unstructured work what fulfilling work means for you. environment?

This will serve as a personal compass. When you find Strengths: yourself at a crossroads, your sense of “Who Am I?” will provide the foundation from which to inform • Which activities do I: do well at, look forward to doing, decisions that will ultimately support your efforts for lose track of time while doing, and leave me feeling career satisfaction and success. strong when completed? • Which tasks and skills can I consistently do effortlessly? The clarity you seek at each stage of the career development process rarely comes all at once. Know • What activities and topics energize me? that confusion is not a sign that you are heading in the wrong direction. Values:

See challenges as an opportunity to invent new • What problems do I feel motivated to solve? avenues and solutions, and approach this journey from • What values am I not willing to compromise in order a place of deep empathy for yourself and faith in your to experience job satisfaction? Examples include: ability to collaborate with others who will help you along creativity, independence, status, recognition, and work/ the way. life balance Stay connected with what you feel curious about. • How do I want to make a difference? Experiment with activities to test out your hunches. Move in this direction, and you will find that you Interests: encounter people and situations that offer more clues about your professional preferences. • What subjects keep me engaged? • What do I do when I’m procrastinating? Core Stages of Your Career • What am I always willing to make time for? Development Process: Once the self-assessment “Who am I?” stage is completed and you have a good sense of what your • Who am I? preferences are, consider the underlying graduate • What’s out there? level skills that align with these preferences. • How do I get there? For example, you may find that your personality preference of solitude and reflection aligns with skills like Note that this is an research and analysis. You may find your presentation ongoing cycle. For skills underlie your value of recognition for the work that example, you may find you do. that you are learning Now, consider which of these skills you enjoy performing what’s out there, but the most [‘skills + enjoyment’]. Create your personalized have not yet assessed who you are. That’s OK. These skills inventory based on this formula - see chapter 3 for puzzle pieces will come together as you take the time to further details. explore all three stages.

10 | Career Planning - Initial Steps What’s Out There: A 20-30 minute conversation, whether in person, over the phone, or online is an opportunity to ask very Use your skills inventory to begin researching what’s out focused and deliberate questions that will give you there. For example, ‘presentation skills + sectors’ will valuable insight into the jobs and industries you are highlight finance & banking, manufacturing, consulting considering. and medical. Begin with your personal network, like peers, faculty, From there, you can further research companies, friends, and family. Also reach out to contacts at organizations, and job postings that are of most professional or industry associations. Research company relevance to your graduate level skills and education. employee profiles, and do a search on professional networking platforms including LinkedIn and Ten Your skills inventory, coupled with your graduate training, Thousand Coffees. can be used to explore various labour market research avenues. Before conducting an informational interview, arrive prepared. Consider what you want to learn from your 1. Online Research contact, and take some notes to ensure you retain key Begin your research by looking into: points. If available, undertake online research on your contact: • Sectors • Company / organization websites of past and present • Industry trends employment • Types of employers • Social media presence, including LinkedIn profile, • Skills in demand Twitter account, professional website, and Instagram page • Employment prospects • Scholarly publications, blog posts, newspaper • Salary information interviews • Positions available Always follow an informational interview with a This information can be found in: thank you note within 24 hours. Refer to chapters two and three of this guide for informational interview • Professional association reports and industry templates, with sample questions. journals: highlight groundbreaking research and innovation, funding support for new initiatives, the 3. Experimenting economic climate, company, and organization updates. Your online research and informational interviews will • Federal, provincial, and municipal government open doors to various activities, where you can get first agencies: provide statistics on employment numbers hand exposure and experience with the occupations per sector, education and training requirements, you’ve identified as aligning with your preferences. income averages, and multi-year outlooks. • University career centres and libraries: offer • Volunteer - apply your skills and knowledge within an resources on conducting effective labour market industry, build your network, learn about the work research (ie. tip sheets, website links, company, involved in company/organization jobs. and organization listings) and hiring trends post • Attend a conference - showcase your professional graduation, access to industry networks, and brand, build your network, learn about innovation and employed alumni. industry trends. • Social media platforms: showcase in real time sector • Attend a networking event - conduct mini growth and decline, hiring trends, and skills in demand. informational interviews, build your network, assess • Directories: list companies, associations, and the look and feel of the industry. organizations on an annual basis. • Set up a job shadow - witness the day-to-day • Job banks: profile job opportunities and industry responsibilities of a working professional, build your specific skill requirements. network, get a feel for whether the industry aligns with your preferences. 2. Informational Interviews • Participate in online forums - join the conversation on hot topics and engage with thought leaders by Follow up your online research by speaking with responding to their posts, asking questions, and industry and academic colleagues about the tasks, sharing your own insights. responsibilities, workplace culture, and industry trends they engage with on a daily basis.

Career Planning - Initial Steps| 11 These activities may find you having tostep out of your comfort zone in order to achieve personal and professional growth. Get creative with experimenting, Tip: Use your skills inventory to begin searching be willing to make mistakes, and move forward knowing ‘what’s out there’. At this stage, don’t worry about that each step you take is bringing you closer to clarity. occupational titles. Instead, your skills based research will open up sectors, companies, and employers that align more closely with your preferences.

Your university library has an array of useful career

planning resources. Some of these include:

• Databases providing a host of information for Showcasing your “fit” in this way will help employers various sectors differentiate you from other candidates, as this level of preparation will allow you to confidently and • Industry reports effectively communicate your value and achievements , • Journals when applying for jobs and interviewing. The following chapters provide an in-depth overview of the “how do • Periodicals I get there” process for both academic and industry • Research guides pathways.

How Do I Get There: Online labour market resources: Once you have clarified your preferences and occupational aspirations, the final stage of the career • www.jobbank.gc.ca/home development process is navigating a career for life. • www.statcan.gc.ca (National Occupational Classification, Canada) With a clear vision of who you are and what’s out there, link your preferences and what you’ve discovered • www.onetonline.org (National Occupational about your target industry to your professional brand, Classification, US) using: • Municipal economic reports • Academic portfolio • Provincial labour market reports • Business cards • Provincial or municipal workforce planning boards

• Cover letter

• CV • Professional website Top Employer • Resume Attributes Jobseekers • Social media - LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram • Teaching philosophy Value Most

SALARY AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

LONG-TERM JOB SECURITY

A PLEASANT WORKING ATMOSPHERE

- Randstad, 2016

12 | Career Planning - Initial Steps Graduate Student Support at Student Learning Support

Graduate students have specific concerns about their academic skills and the demands of graduate-level study. We offer a variety of programming, including individual help (in-person or remotely), workshops, and group sessions.

Each week, graduate students can participate in our Coffee and Writing Group for supported writing sessions and uninterrupted writing time. They can also join one of our Dissertation Retreats to focus on their work in a distraction-free environment. Our Graduate Write-a-thon creates a space for intensive writing time, individual support, and camaraderie. Finally, doctoral students can get one-on-one support from a dissertation coach.

Learn more at ryerson.ca/sls Navigating Change and Transition

As our world becomes increasingly fast-paced and technological, a more educated workforce is a priority, leading to increased numbers of Canadian and international students enrolling in graduate programs.

Between 1980 and 2010 the total number of graduate students grew by almost 113,000. A future asset to our workforce, as a graduate student, you will experience a transition process while completing your studies and conducting your job search, from entering, experiencing, and leaving graduate school.

Going To Graduate School Graduate Student Experiences Leaving Graduate Financial School ResourcesR Academic Cognitive Departurer Family Integration Structural Background Development Educational Expectations Transferr

Goal Psychosocial Internal External Personal Attributes Commitments Development I fl Field of Age Study Degree Completion Personal Goals/Aspirations Social Psychological Career Undergraduate Experience Integration Outcomes Values & Academic PerformancePe o e Transition Ethnicity Pathways after Family/ Graduate School Gender & Family Status i Job Search Decisions Others & Academic Friends Career

Willingness to Relocate Non- Academic Social Identity Career Development Enrolment Status Further Education

“Transitioning into, Through, and Out of Graduate School: A Theoretical Model”, The Canadian Journal of Career Development, 2013.

Regardless of your stage of life as a graduate student and job seeker, transitions are a time for both self-reflection and action. You may doubt yourself from time to time, with feelings like inadequacy, phoniness, and postering, despite evidence of your high achievement.

As you progress through your program and enter the labour market, try to reframe your thinking from “I don’t know anything” or “I’m not qualified” to “I don’t know everything” and “I’m still learning”.

Even with a graduate degree, don’t put pressure on yourself to know it all. A career for life is a journey of continuous learning and professional growth. Believe in your intelligence, creativity, and capability.

14 | Career Planning - Initial Steps Key Tips 5. Stay up-to-date Continue to use your well cultivated research skills to Here are key tips to guide this process and maintain stay current with what is going on in the industry resilience, motivation, patience, and mental and physical you wish to work in, both while completing your well-being while building your career. graduate studies and after you graduate. 1. Maintain a positive attitude Let others know how you are keeping up-to-date Job searching takes work, especially in an evolving through activity on social media channels. Share economy and labour market. Maintaining a positive what you are discovering, contribute to topical attitude means giving yourself a break and managing conversations, and comment on others’ points of view. expectations. Making an appointment with your Career This also assists in building your profile to prospective Centre’s graduate specialist can help you begin your employers and industry leaders. career plan and provide clarity on next steps. 6. Pursue your interests in academia and beyond

What excites you about your graduate research? Graduates often have access to career services as What other activities and hobbies do you participate alumni following graduation. in? In pursuing your interests, you will find that employment and volunteer opportunities you are 2. Network - socially and professionally coming across are more closely aligned to what you are passionate about. Finding a career opportunity that compliments your graduate education, advanced skill set, and stage of life 7. Note your transferable skills requires a quality network of academic and industry You are building a comprehensive and advanced skill colleagues. Seek professional mentorship, up-to-date set as part of your graduate training, teaching and labour market information, advice on career pathways, graduate assistantships, grant applications, conference and continuing education tips from your contacts. presentations, and thesis and dissertation writing. Your Don’t limit yourself! For example, use your Twitter or skill set is 100% transferable to both academic and LinkedIn account to make connections with others non-academic careers, so consider the skills you are based on shared interests. Attending events and developing and how they align with the jobs you are staying engaged will help you keep your networks fresh applying to. and alive. Your network can only survive with your Take the time to research positions of interest and the dedication and care. kinds of technical and social skills you possess that 3. Stay physically active would make you an ideal fit. The transferability of your skills is not only a factor in the responsibilities of the job, It is equally as important to maintain a healthy lifestyle. but also the culture of the workplace. While working on your job search, take frequent breaks to get outside, move around, and engage with your environment. When you return back to the task at hand Further Reading you will feel refreshed, focused, and able to take on a new perspective.

4. Reflect and learn from experiences On transitions:

There are a lot of experiences to be had when job • Managing Transitions: Making the Most of Change searching. Take time to reflect on what you learn, by William Bridges hear, see, and do. All activities, including networking, • Finding Right Work: Five Steps to a Life you Love by volunteering, labour market research, and applying Leni Miller for jobs play an important part in building yourself • Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable personally and professionally. What can you learn Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brené Brown about yourself from your experiences? How might they confirm or change your perspective as you are establishing your career pathway?

Career Planning - Initial Steps| 15 Q&A Voices of Experience

NAME Wilson Leung

JOB TITLE, COMPANY Lecturer, Leadership Development, The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education at Ryerson University

EDUCATION Leadership, D.Min. (Tyndale University College and Seminary)

LINKEDIN Find me on LinkedIn to learn more about my career & education.

TWITTER @WilsonLeungTO

WHAT KEY STEPS DID YOU TAKE I pursued an area of education that was a passion of mine, which made TO TRANSITION FROM INDUSTRY learning engaging and relevant. It was also important to cultivate and TO ACADEMIA? maintain an adventurous attitude so that I was open to exploring new possibilities.

HOW DID YOU CONSIDER WHAT As the process of transition brought many ups and downs, resilience SKILLS WOULD BE MOST VALUED? was a key skill through all the challenges I faced. Also, since transition involved so much uncertainty and ambiguity, it was essential to be agile and adaptable to opportunities that grew organically.

HOW HAVE YOU PREPARED I believe in having a life-long learner mindset. Being intentional in YOURSELF FOR NAVIGATING personal development, for example, staying current with leadership YOUR CAREER PATHWAY AS IT books or sitting down with mentors to acquire valuable insights. Also, I EVOLVES OVER TIME? purposefully take time to reflect on life experiences - whether positive or negative – to glean lessons that may help inform the future.

HOW CAN A GRADUATE STUDENT The journey of transition can be difficult and overwhelming which can stir BENEFIT FROM SELF LEADERSHIP up feelings such as anxiety, fear and stress. Effective self-leadership WHEN EXPERIENCING is learning to understand yourself by accurately identifying those TRANSITIONS? emotions and then constructively managing them through approaches such as journaling, exercising, reframing challenges, and sharing with a trusted source.

LOOKING BACK, WHAT MIGHT Though I networked significantly during my transition, it is something that I HAVE YOU DONE DIFFERENTLY could have done even more of. It would be helpful to network both with TO EASE YOUR TRANSITION AND a wider range of people with varied life experiences but also seeking REMAIN RESILIENT DURING YOUR out specific individuals to connect with in my particular industry. MOST CHALLENGING MOMENTS?

16 | Career Planning - Initial Steps Graduate Career & Professional Development on GRADCentral “ As a recent graduate in a city that was not my hometown, networking became an important part of my job search. Through networking, I gained insights from people about the different jobs and experiences they had, and how this led to their present position. By conducting informational interviews with recruiters and managers, it enabled me to assess my skills and experiences and how I could develop professionally. More importantly, networking pushed me outside of my comfort zone and was an exercise in understanding who I am, what I want, and where I want to go in my journey.

Casey, Immigration and Settlement Studies Masters Program 2 The Academic Job Search

Academic Career Pathways Building Your Professional Portfolio Template & Tips: Curriculum Vitae (CV) Cover Letter Your Job Search: From Networking to Interview Pathways Within Student Affairs and Services • Designing and delivering student support beyond Academia academic training across a wide range of sub-sectors. • Sub-sectors include: career education services, student learning support, mentoring, student life Universities and colleges in Canada employ nearly programming (e.g. orientation, leadership training), 400,000 people (as of 2016) across a wide range of residence/housing, international student services, occupations. In addition to a faculty appointment, there personal counselling, graduate student professional are a myriad of diverse and interesting career paths development, learning and teaching support (graduate to pursue in higher education. level), student and financial aid, sports and recreation, Graduates of Masters and PhD programs working in student safety and wellbeing policy and programming: these positions use their intensive training in research, support, prevention, education, and diversity and academic writing, postdoc appointments, and other inclusion. experiences to uniquely respond to the expectations of • Individuals pursuing a student affairs career path are their new roles. often motivated to support student success, growth, and development, and to drive student learning Faculty Appointments & Contract Faculty outside the classroom. • Student-centred work: including teaching, course Academic Professional Associations design, academic advising, graduate supervision, and curriculum review. • Represent and serve individuals who work • Professional-centred work: including serving on in Canadian and international post-secondary committees, applying for grants, participation in institutions, including student affairs, academic professional associations, conference presentations, disciplines, and administration. and research. • Common ‘core business’ can include: professional • Community-centred work: including public development, training, events, resources, and policy talks, speaking to media, and providing advice to research and recommendations to members and organizations/government. affiliated universities. • Sample associations: Canadian Association of University Administration College and University Student Services (CACUSS), Canadian Association of Graduate Studies (CAGS), and • Key role in maintaining the flow of operations National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE, for students, faculty, staff, and external partners American). via organization and planning, communication, management, teamwork, and business awareness. Sector Organizations & Think Tanks • Departments may include: registry, human resources, finance, marketing, public relations, campus • Act as an authoritative, consistent voice for the sector. facilities, IT, and departmental support. • Common ‘core business’ can include: research, conference and events, and legislative lobbying. Library • Sample organizations: Council of Ontario Universities • Responsibilities include: acquiring, organizing, (COU), Conference Board of Canada, and The Mowat managing and distributing resources, while Centre (CAN). maintaining an updated collection and access to resources that meet the needs of all users. Academic Career • Provide innovative services and outreach programs that support independent research and learning skills. Pathways • Partner with faculty, external organizations, and other campus stakeholders including students/ CANADIAN UNIVERSITIES alumni to foster academic and career success through EMPLOY APPROXIMATELY information literacy. 250,000 PEOPLE, OF WHOM 65,400 ARE UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS OR LECTURERS. - Times Higher Education, 2017

20 | The Academic Job Search • Be aware of cultural differenceswhen writing your The Academic Labour Market resume and/or CV - research national norms.

Post secondary employment can be part time (contract) • Get to know standardized online job application or permanent (full time, continuing). University hiring systems and formats that may exist in certain practices are based on a number of factors, including countries. student enrollment, government funding, and the • Use websites and social media platforms (ie. establishment of new departments in academic and non LinkedIn and Twitter) to gain insight into the mission academic settings. and values of each higher education institution you apply to. Thus, the labour market in academia is ever changing. This offers prospective candidates a Take the time to research potential employers’ continuous range and selection of employment expectations for applications by reviewing the job opportunities. Many who enter higher education take posting, understanding the application format, and advantage of the ability to navigate multiple career checking in with your mentors. Consider approaching paths within a single institution, working in different the employer directly or individuals employed there roles and developing cross-departmental expertise and for an informational interview call via Skype. See the self networks. introduction template in chapter three, Your Job Search, from Online to Offline, on how to request an informational It is important to keep in mind the ebb and flow of interview. employment in higher education by staying up-to- date with new reforms and policy trends. Target and With both education and research being global tailor your job applications to the most promising sectors, and in light of increasingly limited academic opportunities. opportunities, an international job search can increase your chances of securing an academic position. Building Once hired, continue to learn about and adapt to areas an international career is also a unique opportunity projected for growth so that you remain a valuable to travel, explore new cultures and approaches to asset to this industry. Attending higher education your work, all while expanding your field(s) of expertise. conferences is a wonderful opportunity to build your network and learn about new initiatives across North American and international institutions. International Perspective

Pursuing an academic pathway can open doors to international job opportunities, for both faculty and non faculty positions. Consider broadening your prospective job market when applying. If applying for a position outside Canada:

• Search job boards within countries of choice. Often countries will have their own websites listing available positions. • Sample job boards: Going Global, Council of International Schools (CIS), Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (HERC). • Learn and understand the application language so that you submit the appropriate documents in the correct format. • Be familiar with research funding models, as you may be expected to know what specific grants to apply for. • Research the workplace culture and find ways to highlight your “fit”. Provide your referees with a brief overview of what they should emphasize in a reference letter for you.

The Academic Job Search| 21 Building Your Highlighting Your Accomplishments TEACHING & EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Academic Portfolio (normally 5 to 6 pages in length) Teaching philosophy: Offer a reflective statement An academic portfolio is an evidence-based collection including your approach to teaching, your objectives of artifacts showcasing your most significant for student learning, and how you’ve practiced effective experiences, accomplishments, and contributions, as methods of teaching in the classroom. well as your philosophies and reflections on teaching and research. While most often used for tenure track List of undergraduate and graduate courses taught: applications, academic portfolios are a valuable job Also provide the average number of students you’ve taught. search tool for any role in higher education. Consider presenting this information using a table or chart.

Remember, when curating your portfolio for any job Description of course revision, curriculum development, application, select content that accurately demonstrates and teaching methods: Include course outlines, videos the scope, quality, and effectiveness of your work and of your teaching, assignments, learning resources, and is relevant to the institution and department you’re other materials that you’ve developed or adapted. Be applying to. No two portfolios will look the same, and selective and consider samples that will demonstrate yours will be unique to you. your use of innovative resources and teaching methods (i.e technological simulations).

Elements of An Assessments of student learning: Showcase tests, Academic Portfolio exams, and exercises you’ve prepared or adapted. Articulate how each assessment and/or exercise is linked to your intended learning outcomes as expressed in 1. Statement of Intent: Preface stating the purpose of your course outline. your portfolio. Student feedback: Include examples of feedback 2. Table of Contents. and evaluation collected from students through 3. Your Accomplishments: delivered in three major questionnaires and surveys. Share your own assessment sections: teaching and educational development, of these findings, such as successes and ways to research and scholarship, service to your overcome challenges. university and the community. Each section is Special contributions to teaching: Include teaching usually 5-6 pages in length. awards, publications and presentations, instructional Provide the hiring committee with an overview of your development grants, and participation in conferences teaching experience, strengths and accomplishments, and seminars on education / pedagogy. including your teaching methodologies. Currency in your field: Share a list of professional The minimum requirement for this section is a teaching development accomplishments, highlighting how they philosophy. When applying for a teaching position some have positively influenced your teaching practice. Provide institutions will also request a teaching dossier which examples of both how you acquire current knowledge typically includes the artifacts mentioned below. pertaining to your discipline, and subsequently apply this knowledge in the classroom. As some members of the hiring committee will be outside of your discipline, it’s important to ensure that As a recent doctoral graduate, you may not have all this section is written in concise and easily digestible the artifacts to develop your portfolio fully. This is OK. language. Avoid jargon and abbreviations. Keep in mind that because of this, hiring committees will pay close attention to your teaching philosophy and research scholarship ,including peer reviewed publications, for junior rank positions. Building Your Professional Portfolio

ON AVERAGE, THE JOURNEY FROM ENTERING GRADUATE SCHOOL TO ATTAINING THE 17-20 RANK OF ‘FULL PROFESSOR’ IN A UNIVERSITY IS 17 TO 20 YEARS. years - Times Higher Education, 2017

22 | The Academic Job Search RESEARCH & SCHOLARSHIP forms of delivery. (normally 5 to 6 pages in length) SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY Research statement: Two page description of the (normally 5 to 6 pages in length) purpose and focus of your research. Articulate its impact, significance, and accessibility through scholarly Articulate and provide evidence of your contribution texts, social media, academic blogs, and open source to the university and within your community, platforms. including:

State how your research benefits the department to • mentoring undergraduate and/or graduate students which you are applying, such as: bringing in grant money, • participating in various departmental and/or leading to faculty collaborations, and engaging student institutional committees and task forces participation in new course design. • volunteering in community civic groups, agencies, and Testimonials: These will be built up over time. For early organizations (ie. professional associations, advisory career professionals, the focus is on sufficient evidence boards, organizing public events or forums) that the candidate has the aptitude for success [teaching • media coverage from organized events and philosophy, program of research, grant writing plan, presentations, thank you letters from professional service component] bodies and community groups, and feedback from students and colleagues. Publications: Selected sample of noteworthy publications in scholarly journals, books, newspapers, Your narrative for this section should include magazines, websites, and academic blogs. Highlight examples that will demonstrate the significance publications from various sources to demonstrate the and breadth of your service. It should clearly state accessibility and relevancy of your research to both how your contributions align with the mission of the academic and non academic audiences. department and the educational institution and the impact they have had on both the university and Research sharing: Include video or audio links of your community. Be sure to mention the size, mission,and presentations, readings, performances, and /or images influence of the committees you were a part of. of exhibits that demonstrate your creative and effective

The Academic Job Search| 23 Q&A Voices of Experience

NAME Manya Whitaker

JOB TITLE, COMPANY Assistant Professor of Education, Colorado College

EDUCATION PhD, Developmental Psychology (Vanderbilt University)

LINKEDIN Find me on LinkedIn to learn more about my career & education.

TWITTER @IvyLeagueLady

WHAT TIPS CAN YOU OFFER IN 1. Understand the demands of the job. PREPARING FOR AN ACADEMIC JOB 2. Gain contextual information by researching the institution: e.g. how is INTERVIEW? the department situated on campus? 3. Prepare descriptions of new course offerings that can fit within the department you are applying to. VOE 4. Develop descriptions of future research endeavors, including those with students. 5. Research the department so you can refer to people by name.

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO It is incredibly important to be authentic and genuine in your DEMONSTRATE YOUR CHARACTER, interpersonal interactions. There is no ‘perfect’ personality or single IN ADDITION TO EDUCATION, ‘right’ answer during an academic interview. The committee wants SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE, WHEN to ensure that you are qualified and will be a good colleague who INTERVIEWING? contributes to the well-being of the department and institution.

WHO DO YOU RECOMMEND AN It is a good idea to reach out to the search committee chair with any APPLICANT REACH OUT TO PRIOR questions or concerns. That person, rather than other members of the TO THEIR INTERVIEW(S), AS PART search committee, has agreed to be the contact person for candidates, OF PREPARING? so they are the go-to resource.

IF PREPARING FOR AN A search committee may not be forgiving of fatigue, wrinkled clothes, or INTERNATIONAL INTERVIEW, WHAT illness, despite the fact that you may be interviewing at 3am your time. SHOULD AN APPLICANT KEEP IN Be at your best regardless of circumstances. Create an interview MIND? schedule that allows you some ‘down time’ to become situated before you interact with the search committee.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS THE The academic job market now prioritizes demonstrated INTERVIEW PROCESS EVOLVED achievement over potential to achieve. Candidates are now expected FOR EARLY CAREER SCHOLARS to have at least one first-authored publication as a recent graduate, but APPLYING TO FACULTY POSITIONS? preferably two or three. Also, teaching evaluations are more commonly consulted than in prior years. Candidates who have experience teaching courses listed in the job description will be favoured.

24 | The Academic Job Search E-Portfolio

An e-portfolio is a digital collection of artifacts that present a robust portrait of your contributions, accomplishments, and professional development across the three major areas of your academic life: research, teaching, and service. E-portfolios complement your CV and other paper based submissions.

Benefits of an E-Portfolio: What to Include in an E-Portfolio: Additional Artifacts May Include:

• Accessibility of information to a • Meaningful quotes • Articles wide audience • Professional photographs (ie. • Audio links/podcasts • Creation of an online presence as conference presentation) • Blog posts a thought leader in your discipline • Include pages on research, • Graphics/infographics • Greater capacity to present more teaching and service • Images evidence of your contributions • Include reflective narratives and and accomplishments examples of your activities and • Videos • Ability to effectively demonstrate accomplishments in each arena • Webpages technology-based research and/or teaching methods adopted

E-Portfolio Development Tips:

• Start curating your e-portfolio as soon as you start your Masters and PhD. Continue to build on it as you progress through your doctorate • Diversify the content and use your homepage to invite the viewer to explore your portfolio • Present documents i.e. teaching philosophy as PDF attachments instead of copy and paste • Use an accessible platform, such as: Behance, Foliotek, and FolioSpaces

Designing your academic professional portfolio is a major accomplishment, as it brings together all that you have done while completing your graduate education. Take pride in constructing it, and remember, your portfolio is a reflection of you in your professional domain.

Further Reading

On the academic portfolio:

• The Academic Portfolio: A Practical Guide to Documenting Teaching, Research, and Service by Peter Seldin and J. Elizabeth Miller • Putting Together Professional Portfolios by Christine Forde, Margery McMahon, and Jenny Reeves • The Digital Teaching Portfolio Handbook: A How To Guide For Educators by Clare R. Kilbane and Natalie B. Milman

The Academic Job Search| 25 Philosophy of Teaching Assessment of Student Learning • What assessment tools have you leveraged in your Statement classroom?

A teaching philosophy statement is a reflective • Why have you chosen these methods? narrative that articulates your core beliefs about • Explain how the selected tools align with your teaching teaching and learning, why you hold these beliefs and goals how you put them into practice. It’s a typical requirement • Outline the specific learning outcomes aligned to the for teaching positions across all disciplines. assessment tools selected Effective teaching statements are able to paint a vivid image of you as a teacher. They are grounded in your Development discipline, they incorporate the mission of the institution, • Outline your development needs in relation to your and are student centered. teaching practice Guidelines and requirements for teaching • How are your teaching goals reflected in your philosophies will vary slightly among different development plan? institutions. Always verify these details when preparing your statement for a particular teaching position. Other Areas for Consideration

Your statement should be written in the first person and • What story do your student surveys tell? organized in paragraphs that coherently address the • How have you changed your teaching methods as a following sections and questions: result of student feedback? • Did the changes positively influence subsequent Beliefs and Objectives surveys? • What are your conceptions of teaching and learning? • What is your understanding of different learning • How do you facilitate student learning? needs? How will you meet those needs? • What are your teaching goals? • How will you create an inclusive learning environment? • What skills and knowledge will you use to ensure • Demonstrate your knowledge of different teaching student success? resources • Use quotes, metaphors or a personal story to • Outline potential problems that can arise in the exemplify your beliefs classroom and your proposed solutions

• Provide evidence based on research and experience Writing your philosophy statement is a process that to support your statements about teaching requires time and reflection. Leverage resources such as books, blog posts, articles, and samples to stimulate Teaching Methods your brainstorming. In addition to resourcing written materials on this topic, also visit your university career • What effective teaching methods have you put into centre and learning and teaching officeto meet with practice? professionals with whom you can discuss your ideas • How are these methods connected to your teaching and receive guidance on the content and format of your goals? statement. • Why have you chosen these methods? • What evidence demonstrates their effectiveness? Further Reading • How do these teaching methods address different learning needs?

• How have students engaged with these teaching On writing a philosophy statement: methods? • Writing a Philosophy Statement: An Educator’s Workbook • How do you incorporate technology into your by Caroline Pryor teaching? • Resources and Practices to Help Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Fellows Write Statements of Teaching Philosophy by Katherine D. Kearns and Carol Subino Sullivan

26 | The Academic Job Search Curriculum Vitae Template *Note: You may be asked for either a CV or resume when applying to non-teaching positions in higher education. Refer to chapter three, Pursuing an Industry Path, to review the resume template and top tips.

The Curriculum Vitae (CV) profiles your academic achievements, professional experiences, scholarly interests, and related teaching and/or research experience.

In organizing this information, the following headings may appear on your CV. Select the ones which are most appropriate for profiling your experience, knowledge, and skills.

Contact Information The first section of any CV begins with your contact information.

• Include your name, address, email address and phone number • Tip: Your name should be in bold and 2 – 3pts. larger than the rest of the font

Example Fatima Jaffer 280 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, M6H 4H1 [email protected] | 416-979-5177

Education

• List your degrees in chronological order • Include degree name, institution name, thesis/dissertation title, supervisor name, academic honours or distinctions

Example

PhD, Policy Studies, Ryerson University, Toronto 2017 – present Thesis: Ontario’s Mental Health Act and the Role of Race and Gender as a Determining Factor for Mandated Treatment Supervisor: Dr. Maria Lyn

Research Interests

• Highlight in bullet form your teaching and research interests

Example

• Health policy addressing treatment protocols for diverse and multi-racial populations • Gender disparities as part of mental health and mental illness

The Academic Job Search| 27 Research Experience

• List your research experience, including research projects, research positions, and academic work • Profile methodologies used, outcomes achieved, and quantify/qualify important aspects of your research projects or work

Example

Research Assistant 2016 – 2017 Wellesley Institute, Toronto, ON • Conducted literature searches, article reviews, and inter-jurisdictional comparisons on complex fiscal and social policy issues focusing on health equity, housing, employment, and income • Designed interview questions, conducted key informant interviews, facilitated focus groups, and analyzed qualitative data to develop a research report on mental health issues impacting racialized youth in suburban communities

Teaching Experience

• List all relevant teaching experience, including instructorship, teaching assistantships, or any related experience • Include course title, department name and institution name, your title, level of course [i.e. undergraduate, graduate], dates for each experience • Profile information about your role [facilitated tutorials, developed curriculum design, provided office hours]

Example

Teaching Assistant, Political Processes in Canada [POL 102 - Undergraduate Course] Department of Political Science, Ryerson University, Toronto, 2018 – present • Organized 25 participant tutorial discussions on political processes, parties, elections, and the media, in addition to contemporary issues focusing on race, gender, Aboriginality and regions

Professional Experience

• Include relevant experience outside of academia that is connected to your discipline • Include position title, name of organization, and a brief description of your role

Example

Project Coordinator 2014 – 2015 Community Connect, Toronto, ON • Collaborated with executive director on fund development, grant writing, and reporting which resulted in the acquisition of $200,000 in funding for projects on linking at risk youth to community based resources • Prepared project evaluation reports and delivered presentations to various stakeholders on project design and impact

28 | The Academic Job Search Curriculum Vitae Additional Components

Publications

• List publications, with most recent first • Include subsections in this category to showcase type of publication (i.e. peer reviewed - note whether this is a work in progress if not yet published, online contribution, or report)

Presentations

• List conference papers, posters, and presentations, and include conference names and dates

Awards, Honours, and Fellowships

• Highlight fellowships, scholarships, awards, and other honours you have received and include any relevant financial amounts attached to them • If the award or honour is not familiar to your audience, include a brief explanatory statement

Memberships, Associations, and Committees [also known as ‘Service’]

• List any memberships, associations and/or committees you are a part of in your academic institution, professional spaces and/or in the community [i.e. board of directors, graduate student associations, community steering committees]

Student Engagement

• Track student interactions beyond teaching, including graduate or undergraduate (honours students) level advising • May not be key early on but can be added to your CV over time

Languages

• List and specify your reading, writing, and oral fluency in languages

References

• Have ready 3-4 individuals who will ask as references on your behalf • If you are requested to include your references on your CV, include their name, position title, department, phone number and email, address, and relationship [i.e. thesis supervisor] • This section is usually at the end of your CV • Ensure these are kept up-to-date, as references change over time

Formatting

• Include your last name and page number in the bottom right hand corner of each page, as most CVs are multiple pages in length • Ex. Jaffer, 2 Number of full time teaching staff at Canadian universities - Statistics Canada, 2016/17

16,239 16,272 8,544 3,561 1,044 Full Associate Assistant Rank or level below Other ranks (not professors professors professors assistant professors elsewhere classified)

The Academic Job Search| 29 Academic Cover Letter Template

Insert your contact information here to match your CV’s details exactly.

Your Name (bold, size 14) Your address, city, province, postal code • phone number • email • social media (size 11)

Name of Recipient Recipient’s Title Name of Department Name of University Address City, Province, Postal Code Date:

Re: Insert Title of Position (insert Job # if applicable)

Dear Dr. [Last Name],

The introduction should capture the reader’s attention, by speaking to content that would be of immediate interest. Options for the first line include: reference to a common acquaintance who advised you of the opening, outlining a key accomplishment in your career, or, showcasing the research you have conducted on the employer and why you want to work for them as a result. Note the job title of the vacancy and where it was advertised, if applicable. The first paragraph will also allow you to briefly introduce your research and stage of your academic studies or postdoctoral fellowship. The format of this paragraph, and those that follow, will vary depending on the focus of your work. If your work is research focussed, then elaborate on your research, and, specifically why it is unique. Discuss your dissertation, what you accomplished in your research, methodologies used, and the implications of your work. Consider how your research matches the employer’s need and focus by making explicit connections between your work and the employer’s mandate. Make reference to funding received and publications.

If you are asked to submit a research statement, paraphrase your content in this paragraph for consistency, without using the same wording. Keep in mind that overall, it is acceptable for an academic cover letter to exceed one page, but no longer than two pages.

A description of teaching experience includes references to courses taught, evidence of student engagement and outcomes, and connections to the employer’s curriculum. The overall intention is again to provide evidence of familiarity with the employer’s department, curriculum, and mandate.

Further evidence of academic or sector accomplishments can be shared here. Examples may include conferences attended, keynote addresses, volunteer or committee work. Make reference to ongoing professional development such as workshops, training courses, and received designations.

You may include a brief paragraph outlining your teaching philosophy, along with concrete examples of how it impacted overall teaching outcomes for students and institutional objectives.

In the closing paragraph, make reference to any additional application materials that are included, whether in hand or online, as well as one to two lines summarizing how the combination of your teaching, research, and other experience make you ideally suited to the role. A request for an interview should be included here, and a note of thanks for the potential employer’s consideration.

Sincerely,

First name, Last Name

Enclosure: List documents here that are included with the cover letter. i.e. application form, curriculum vitae, or resume.

30 | The Academic Job Search • Ensure a clean copy, free of typos and grammatical Cover Letters: Top Tips errors. & Core Points Tailoring: • Address your cover letter to a specific person, A well written cover letter is an essential element rather than “To Whom It May Concern” or “Dear Sir or of any job application; without one, the application Madam”. If the job posting does not indicate the name is incomplete. Always send a cover letter along of the hiring manager, then do your best to find their with your CV, even if it is not explicitly requested. name by asking your contacts, calling the department The cover letter allows you to express to a potential or searching online. employer why you want to work for them and how your • If you are unable to address the cover letter to the values align to their company or organization. hiring manager, or lead of the hiring committee, Moreover, academic cover letters provide an either delete the salutation altogether or lead with the opportunity to describe your dissertation, research recipient’s job title such as: “Dear Hiring Manager ” or interests, and teaching philosophy, and how these “Dear Hiring Committee”. are best suited to the department you are applying • Avoid insincere flattery. Instead, reflect carefully on to. Unlike an industry cover letter, academic cover why you are applying for a given position, and try to letters can be up to two pages in length. make a genuine and valuable connection. General Tips for Crafting an Personalizing: Effective Cover Letter • Include a designation or academic abbreviation Formatting: after your name, using a smaller font size such as size 9. For example: P.Eng, PhD, PMP, CFP, MSW. • The layout and format should match your CV, • Add a handwritten signature by signing your printed Statement of Intent, Teaching Dossier and other cover letter and then scanning it. relevant documents, and reflect a personal letterhead format. • Use standard business font such as Calibri, Arial or Verdana, and be consistent throughout. • Choose a font size which is easy to read, including size 14 for your name, and size 11 for the content in the body.

Send your cover letter and CV as one attachment (a PDF Do not embed your cover letter in your email body. is good). Have your CV follow your cover letter and use the same header for each document.

Focus on how your international experience is Instead of mentioning you are new to Canada and transferable to a Canadian context. looking to start in any role, showcase your knowledge of the Canadian labour market.

Speak to how your international perspective is an asset. Refrain from mentioning you are taking English language courses to improve your language skills. Instead, indicate that you are bi- or multilingual, with a working knowledge of the English language.

You are not required to put any personal information in Refrain from sharing personal information such as: your cover letter. marital status, health, or whether you have children.

The Academic Job Search| 31 university department and/or peers CV Tips and Strategies • Begin to apply your skills and education beyond your Reflect and Identify: graduate program • Define your professional brand both on and off line When starting to write your CV, it is important to take the time to reflect on and review your With up to 65-80% of jobs never advertised, it is critical past professional and academic experiences, to take the time to develop a job search plan that will publications, scholarly interests, projects, and allow you to: activities. Within these experiences, identify key responsibilities and accomplishments to ensure • leverage your existing network you are highlighting the most relevant information • make new industry contacts for your intended audience. • showcase your transferable skills and professional Craft a Master CV Draft: brand

It is a great idea to begin with a “master • highlight your value add CV draft” that includes everything you have done. This may be up to several pages long, and should include your academic and Locating Academic Jobs professional experiences, projects, activities, and accomplishments. You can then use this Job opportunities appear in a number of settings: as a reference point for customization of each application. • University and departmental websites - university websites will have a career opportunities web Review: page listing positions in categories such as: faculty and instructors, staff, and executive and academic There are various ways to showcase your administrators. knowledge, skills, and experiences for employment opportunities, internships, grad school and • Professional associations - often, associations funding applications on a CV. Consult with your representing academic disciplines will notify members Career Centre, a peer, or a mentor to ensure on their website or on list serves about upcoming job your CV is professional, up to date, and tailored to opportunities. the position you are applying for. Refer to the CV • Specialty publications - subscribing to newsletters template in this chapter, and also chapter four for and academic journals in your field can notify you of more information on mentorship opportunities. available positions. • Networks - Your contacts can be a source to learn about opportunities that are both listed and unlisted or not yet listed. Preparing Your Academic Job Search Professional Associations Participating in professional associations is a targeted way to build your profile, gain industry knowledge, Securing an academic job, whether a faculty or non and network with like minded professionals in higher faculty position, takes hard work. Taking a passive education. Often these associations will conduct approach to your job search by spending a majority of research on the state of their industry and share key your time only applying to advertised positions found findings on job growth via their website, sponsored online will significantly limit your options. webinars and conferences, member focused meetings and professional development events. You can stay An active approach entails using a variety of job search abreast, and even ahead of the curve, of job strategies to increase your employment opportunities. In opportunities through active engagement. addition to online job searching:

• Tap into your network to learn about upcoming opportunities that have yet to be advertised • Create opportunities such as collaborating with a

32 | The Academic Job Search Discipline Sample Professional In addition, academic hiring decisions, like many Association organizations, are in part based on “fit” of the candidate, including: Arts Canadian Historical Association • Area(s) of research • Teaching fields Creative industries Academy of Television Arts & • Faculty demographics and diversity Science • Faculty personality Community The Canadian Community Showcasing a diverse professional portfolio that development Economic Development speaks to your creativity and innovation in an Network academic context is also key.

STEM STEM Fellowship Non Faculty Appointments

Graduates of Masters and PhD programs can have a very rewarding career in non faculty positions within Conference Circuit higher education. An academic skill set is transferable, and beneficial to meeting the challenges presented While attending and presenting, take time to network in these roles. Stay on top of current and upcoming with attendees. You’ll not only gain professional opportunities by: contacts, but will also learn about their workplace culture, hiring practices, and upcoming opportunities. • Regularly visiting university online jobs boards for full-time and contract positions Be sure to keep track of who you meet by collecting business cards, connecting on LinkedIn, and making a • Attending higher education conferences for note of when to follow up. As you grow your network, professionals working in student affairs and consider organizing your contacts in a spreadsheet, services to stay abreast of recent research, program outlining where you met, what you discussed, and why development, trends, and employment opportunities you’d like to follow up. • Reaching out to your network at different institutions to assess how to best tailor your professional profile to stand out Tip: on the back of a business card, you can write a • Engaging on social media platforms like LinkedIn few notes after speaking with a new contact, serving as and Twitter, following your targeted post-secondary a reminder later of where you left off and what you’d institutions. Hiring managers often announce like to follow up on. candidate searches here

Faculty Appointments

For graduate students interested in becoming a faculty member, expected accomplishments include:

• Completed dissertation • Peer reviewed publications • Grants and awards • Teaching experience and teaching philosophy • Relevant work experience • Research experience • Service to academic community

The Academic Job Search| 33 10 Networking Tips to Enhance your Academic Job Search

1. Get involved: 2. Join professional 3. Build your profile: 4. Do your research: Present at conferences associations: Be an Document what you’re Ask questions and get and find ways to active member by learning and doing on answers from your share your knowledge volunteering, attending social media platforms contacts about career and skills within your events, and sitting on like LinkedIn and pathways in your academic and non committees. Twitter to become a preferred industries. academic community. thought leader.

5. Maintain your 6. Seek mentorship: Have 7. Develop your value relationships: Keep your a network contact you really proposition: Assess how contacts up-to-date on connect with? Ask them to your education, experience, how you are developing be your mentor, and set and skills add value to your professionally with an email expectations. preferred industries and or coffee chat. network.

8. Career advising: Review 9. References: Tap into 10. Return the favour: Find your networking strategy your network to request a something that will help out a every few months with your reference and/or a direct contact. Use your expertise to university’s career education recommendation on your help others. It will be returned. specialist to enhance and/or behalf to an employer. revise.

34 | The Academic Job Search Q&A Voices of Experience

NAME Funké Aladejebi

JOB TITLE, COMPANY Assistant Professor, Trent University

EDUCATION PhD, History (York University)

LINKEDIN Find me on LinkedIn to learn more about my career & education.

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION Canadian Historical Association, American Historical Association, Canadian MEMBERSHIPS: Society for Studies in Education, Ontario College of Teachers, Black Canadian Studies Association

IN WHAT WAYS CAN A GRADUATE One of the best ways a graduate student or recent alumnus can STUDENT OR RECENT ALUMNUS get involved with their professional network is to join professional GET INVOLVED WITH THEIR associations. These associations usually organize meetings or conduct a PROFESSIONAL NETWORK? variety of outreach activities. Not only did I attend local conferences and workshops but I was also able to learn about affiliated organizations that I could work with.

WHAT TIPS CAN YOU PROVIDE ON I found it important to connect with other members in my field BUILDING YOUR NETWORK AS through information interviews and personal meet-ups.This means A MEMBER OF A PROFESSIONAL setting intention and genuinely cultivating relationships with people. I also ASSOCIATION? found getting on professional listservs and announcement boards incredibly helpful in expanding my professional network.

HOW HAVE YOU APPLIED THE I write in online journals and blogs that are a part of my professional KNOWLEDGE AND INSIGHTS network, and this has been incredibly positive in my academic job YOU’VE GAINED FROM YOUR search. Hiring committees have been interested in my approach to NETWORK TO YOUR ACADEMIC making historical information accessible through a variety of media JOB SEARCH? platforms as well as having an online presence.

WHAT DO YOU MOST ENJOY My network contacts come from diverse backgrounds and are LEARNING ABOUT FROM YOUR engaged in a wide range of social, professional and academic NETWORK CONTACTS? activities. I have kept in touch with graduate colleagues engaged in work with non-governmental organizations. As a result, our circles are constantly collaborating through educational and social justice projects.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU I have found the most rewarding experiences and connections are GIVE ON REACHING OUT TO in areas unrelated to my field. Having met with professionals who YOUR NETWORK BEFORE AN still share an interest in what I do, I learn about their expertise, make INTERVIEW? connections, and I am able to expand my knowledge before interviewing. When reaching out to your networks, think outside of the box!

The Academic Job Search| 35 2. How does your use of time vary? (what is a typical Conducting an Informational day?)

Interview 3. Why did you decide to work for this institution?

4. What do you like most about working within higher When reaching out to a contact, start the conversation education? by introducing yourself and the purpose of engagement.

A sample opening script: Industry Outlook “Hello. 1. What opportunities for advancement are there in My name is X and I am a X graduate student. I am engaged this field? in career exploration at the moment. One of the occupations that I am considering pursuing is X. 2. How do you see jobs in this field changing in the future? Would I be able to set up an appointment for an informational interview to speak with you for 20-30 3. How do you see this field changing in the future? minutes? Based on your experience in X, I’d like to ask some questions and get some advice.” 4. What are the current and future demands set by industry for professionals entering this field? Informational Interview Sample Questions Industry Professional Personal Information 5. In what areas is this field growing?

First and Last Name: Professional Development Higher Education Institution currently employed at: (university, college, professional association) 1. What types of training have you received or pursued Title: after entering into this field? Number of years in this role: Number of total years of experience in this field: 2. What organizations, committees, and networks have you found most valuable in building your professional profile? Occupational Requirements and Experience 3. What steps have you taken to build an attractive and 1. What training and/or education is required for this robust professional profile within this sector? type of work, and/or roles that support the work that you do? 4. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

2. What aspects of your previous training and/or 5. As a female/professional with declared disabilities/ education do you find most useful in your day to day first generation graduate working in higher work? education, what challenges and successes have you faced in employment, advancement, and building 3. What have you identified as your most valuable your professional development? transferable skills and how are they applied in the work that you do? Field Entry Preparation

4. What other professional titles/positions have you 1. From your experience, what is the typical job considered with your educational background and interview like? experience that you feel qualified to do in this field? 2. How do you recommend a recent graduate 5. What positions in higher education have your peers showcase their talent and skills to potential moved into after receiving a similar educational employers and networks? background? 3. If you were a university student again, what else 6. Given my own education and research interests, would you do to prepare yourself for this field? how could my skills and experience add value to the work that you and your department does? 4. Who else in your professional network can you recommend I speak with? A Day in the Life Name 1. What are the duties, functions, and responsibilities Job Title of your job? Institution

36 | The Academic Job Search Preparing for an Academic Job Interview

When invited to interview, you should be ready to speak to: • Your research, teaching, work, and volunteer experience • The college or university where you are interviewing • The department you will work in • The position you’ve applied for

Fit is key. Interviewing is your chance to show how you are the best candidate, not only for the job but also the workplace culture. Research what a department’s priorities are, including their mission statement, and what they are looking for. You can glean from a department’s mission statement how it envisions its future. Review its website and pamphlets for prospective students. Be proactive and address what is important to a department by doing your research.

Use an active voice when describing your accomplishments. For example, instead of listing your innovative teaching strategies, outline how you use them, what the positive outcome is for your students, and how you envision applying them if selected for the position you are interviewing for.

Phone • Sometimes in place as the first-round interview. Interviews • A committee may listen in via speakerphone, so expect possibility of interruptions and delays. • Speak clearly, confidently, and precisely. • Give the pertinent details to be remembered by, avoid lengthy responses. • Have relevant material handy for reference. • Avoid reading off of documents. • Use a pen and notepad to jot down key points.

Skype/ • Practice a mock interview via Skype with a career education specialist or trusted colleague. Virtual • Watch for posture, tone, eye contact, and speed of delivery - 55% percent of messages Interviews processed by the brain are based on a person’s body language. • Set up equipment early on day of and do a test run. • Dress appropriately. • Minimize distractions. • Ensure a solid internet connection.

Conference • Annual conferences may have on-site interviews. Interviews • Your interviewer will likely encounter a number of candidates. • Establish rapport, speak to shared research interests, and why you wish to become a member of the interviewer’s department . • Be mindful that the interview may be shorter in this setting, so be concise. • If in a more public space, speak clearly and engagingly.

On-Campus • Give yourself adequate travel time, and carry on your essentials if flying to your destination. Interviews • Treat all interviewers with respect by listening attentively and making eye contact. • Treat yourself as your interviewers will treat you: a professional colleague. Resist the temptation to let imposter syndrome take over.

The Academic Job Search| 37 Academic Job Talks • Relocation and moving assistance • Extra duties / service to the institution Your academic job talk is your chance to enhance your candidacy for a faculty position. Proper preparation will lead to a great delivery. For further information on negotiating job offers, refer to chapter four on Transitioning to Employment. Logistics How much time is allocated to your talk? Give yourself time and space to consider academic Do you have your copies with you? opportunities. The application process can be lengthy. Will they supply audio visual equipment? Doing your research, preparing your materials, and Where is the talk held? communicating effectively will help you to stand out as a top candidate. Content What research are they looking for you to speak to: dissertation, otherwise? How will you demonstrate the importance of your The role of company research? How is your work related to important issues in the field? research when Is your talk interesting? What questions can you anticipate the committee will applying for jobs ask?

Accomplishments What have you done and what will you be doing in the future? How have you successfully addressed the “so what” of 83% your research?

Tips for a successful job talk: • Write out your entire talk, and practice your delivery. Keep your key messages simple and clear. 83% OF EMPLOYEES/ JOB SEEKERS ARE LIKELY • Consider your audience. Not everyone will be TO RESEARCH COMPANY familiar with your research so be clear about it and its REVIEWS AND RATINGS significance. WHEN DECIDING ON WHERE • Think of your job talk as being about an idea, not a TO APPLY FOR A JOB paper. Think about the lens and scope you will use to - Glassdoor, 2018 disseminate your idea effectively. • Use visuals, but don’t overly rely on them. Give your audience time to take in the information presented on slides but refrain from speaking to them.

Negotiating an Academic Job Offer

If you are negotiating an academic offer, research in advance which aspects of the offer are negotiable, as well as what your preferences and needs would be around some of the following considerations:

• Lab/office space • Research funding • Research budget • Office supports • Travel budget

38 | The Academic Job Search Ryerson Professional Development in Teaching Program

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ryerson.ca/graduate “ Social media has been essential for professional networking with other academics and creatives. These platforms not only helped me locate opportunities, such as finding open calls for academic conferences and creative writing contests, but also allowed me to form and maintain relationships that have lasted beyond a single project.

Natasha, Professional Communications Masters Program Pursuing an Industry Path 3

Understanding & Exploring Industry Routes Building & Articulating a Transferable Skills Inventory Templates & Tips: Resume Cover Letter Your Job Search: From Online to Offline Understanding and Exploring Industry Routes

Considering an industry pathway after completing your graduate studies requires skill based learning, industry research, experimentation, and resilience. Graduate students who successfully transition to industry find careers which value their skills, interests, and expertise as professionals who can innovate and strategize in our knowledge based economy.

Skill Based Learning

The key here is to unpack your degree by identifying skills gained through your academic experience, and connecting them to employer needs. Your transferable skill set is a combination of both your academic and professional training.

Most graduate students identify research, teaching, writing, and presenting as the key skills they gain from academia. It is worth considering, on a deeper level, what professional training you actually gained from building these skills, and how this aligns with, and adds value to, your desired sector.

For example, while you are completing your research, you conduct countless hours of experimentation, collect interviews, and assess archival documents. It may take numerous efforts and approaches to discover the right data. Translating how these skills, as the building blocks of your research and training, meet the needs of the labour market, is an essential component of showcasing your transferability, as outlined in the table below:

Academic Sample Equivalent Showcasing Skill Transferability Skill Industry Skills (Skills in bold for demo purposes only)

Research • Collaboration During my graduate studies I managed a major research • Creative thinking project, my thesis/dissertation. To achieve my projected research goals I conducted 26 experiments to obtain the • Critical thinking correct data, and followed a defined research plan that • Data management ensured the project was completed within a five year timeline. I consistently consulted with my supervisor on best practices • Liaising and consulting in managing collected data, and collaborated with peers • Problem solving and faculty to receive constructive feedback throughout this • Project management process.

Quantitative • Decision making The significance of my research lies in myrevaluation and and • Statistical modelling reassessment of data sets using a new statistical modelling Qualitative technique I designed. I managed and sorted my data Data Analysis • Statistical research collection and compared these results with a literature review • Storytelling by industry experts to ensure the integrity and compliance of this research.

Teaching • Capacity building My experience teaching undergraduate students has honed • Interpersonal my interpersonal communication with a diverse clientele. communication Having taught cohorts of up to 30 students, between the ages of 18 and 40, I manage expectations by answering difficult • Leadership questions, resolving conflicts, and revising lesson plans quickly • Performance and effectively when required. In so doing, I build the capacity management for myself to be attentive to the needs of my clients, so that I am not only teaching academic content, but also training and • Training and developing my students to become critical thinkers, and myself development as a thought leader.

42 | Pursuing an Industry Path Academic Sample Equivalent Showcasing Skill Transferability Skill Industry Skills (Skills in bold for demo purposes only)

Academic • Articulating significance While completing my graduate training, I’ve utilized my writing Writing • Clear and concise skills as a researcher, educator, project manager, and grant writer to articulate the value of my research to a wide ranging • Consulting audience of academics, students, affiliated organizations, • Deductive reasoning and government bodies. I’ve secured funding from both professional associations and government agencies by clearly • Process oriented outlining the process of my research goals. I regularly consult with my colleagues to ensure I disseminate knowledge that is most key to my intended audiences.

Conference • Active listening I have presented my research findings to engaged audiences, Presentations • Collaboration who in turn, have influenced my research by offering their insights and interest in further collaboration with me. I always • Communication take an active listening approach to ensure each interaction • Community I have leads to an exchange of valuable knowledge, and my Engagement conference community has been a great resource to me for delivering on this kind of engagement. • Knowledge exchange

Undertaking additional skill based learning in both interpersonal and technical areas will also complement your existing skill sets, assisting you in building capacity for skills sought by your target industry and increasing your marketability. Take advantage of self-directed learning tools and online tutorials, such as lynda.com and tutorialspoint.com to build your knowledge in a particular area, as required by the roles you wish to target.

example, an engineering PhD who is skilled in financial Getting to Know Your mathematics may enter the terms “engineering, finance” Industry on job search engines like Indeed.com to identify opportunities in the finance sector that require both engineering and mathematical expertise. In Canada, hiring of PhDs has remained steady over the past 15 years in diverse careers, even Understanding & while doctoral degree holders doubled over this time period (CAGS, 2018). Our labour market continues to Exploring Industry seek a talent pool with advanced graduate education that can drive innovation, creativity and social/cultural Routes advancement.

2018 In assessing an industry labour market, focus on opportunities that allow you to explore your options and leverage your expertise. In addition to experience 33k 2k gained, you’ll secure insight into the skills, knowledge, executives meetings and training that are most valuable in your targeted sector(s). CANADIAN ASSOCIATIONS COUNT OVER Rather than focusing on job titles, research 33,000 EXECUTIVES AS MEMBERS AND employment opportunities based on your skill sets and interests to identify opportunities that match, HOST NEARLY 2,000 MEETINGS AND or bring you closer to your future career goals. For CONFERENCES ANNUALLY. - Associations Canada, 2018

Pursuing an Industry Path| 43 The following are sample employment opportunities from a range of sectors that require knowledge, skills, academic experience, and unique expertise, obtained in each academic program listed below.

Academic Program Industry Sector

Business Finance Information and Communications Technologies Professional Services, Consulting Professional Services, Consumer Service

Community Services Community Health Services Community Legal Services Disability Support Education Employment and Social Services Government

Communications and Design Information and Communications Technologies Professional Services, Broadcasting Professional Services, Consulting Professional Services, Government Professional Services, Marketing

Engineering Clean Technologies Information and Communications Technologies Manufacturing/Tech Professional Service, Finance Professional Services/Marketing

Math and Computer Sciences Agriculture and Processed Foods Finance Information and Communications Technologies Technical and Financial Services

Sciences Addiction and Mental Health Biotech Cleantech Finance Healthcare

Social Sciences and Humanities Business Consulting Government Immigration and Settlement Professional Services, Legal Telecommunications

44 | Pursuing an Industry Path Experimenting with Opportunities

In addition to academic commitments, many graduate students experiment with other skill building activities:

• Sitting on graduate committees • Attending professional development workshops • Volunteering on campus and within the community • Part-time employment

Applying to new graduate internships and recruitment programs is also an advantageous way to learn about new trends and activities in industry:

• Ontario Public Service - summer and new graduate programs that provide workplace experience and exposure to various functions of government. • Corporate recruitment programs - Organizations including Rogers, TD Canada Trust, CGI and Deloitte offer various entry points into industry sectors for current students and new graduates. • Startup and entrepreneurship funding programs - Visit startupheretoronto.com and www.futurpreneur. ca to discover self-starter and entrepreneurship programs that provide mentorship, funding, networking, and training for business ideas. Also refer to chapter four where you will find more information on self-employment and entrepreneurship.

To further explore possible pathways with your degree, don’t shy away from reaching out to hiring managers, recruiters, and professionals currently holding roles that you are interested in for informational interviews. Conduct this research to gain labour market insights to guide your career decision making process and access the hidden job market. You will find more on informational interviews in the following pages.

While completing your graduate studies is an exciting and challenging experience, so to is transitioning into industry. Keep in mind that all of the skills you’re developing right now are the tools you need for maintaining your resilience as an industry job seeker. This is essential for being adaptable in an evolving labour market, and key to showcasing to employers the potential you have to contribute to industry in meaningful and significant ways. You have what it takes. At this stage, it’s about research, having a sound understanding of what you have to offer your industry, and experimenting to uncover exciting opportunities in the labour market.

Pursuing an Industry Path| 45 Building and Situation or Transferable Experience interpersonal Skills Articulating Your Acquired Transferable Skills Conducting • Diligence Inventory experiments and • Problem solving experiencing failure if/when they don’t • Perseverance Being able to know and articulate what your work. • Troubleshooting transferable skills are is an important part of the career planning process, as engaging in activities that use your strongest and preferred skills is a key Working with peers, • Active listening component of job satisfaction. Moreover, being aware faculty, students, • Collaboration of the most prominent skills in your desired industry and colleagues. staying up to date with your use, practice, and training • Teamwork will ensure you stay resilient as you build a career for life. Mentoring a • Developing What is a transferable skills peer or an capabilities undergraduate • Inspiring student. inventory comprised of? • Leadership

1. Task based skills ( i.e. research, writing, analysis) • Relationship building

2. Expertise based skills (i.e. academic training as a teaching assistant, course director, or conference Organize and/ • Communication facilitator) or participate in a • Event planning program, faculty 3. Interpersonal based skills (i.e. detail-oriented, or university run • Networking friendly, inquisitive) event. • Organizing Although many people will possess skills in each • Strategizing category, it is your unique combination and how you use them that will make you stand out to employers. Engage with other • Critical thinking researchers and • Ideas generation discuss areas In the section on Understanding and Exploring for potential • Inquisitiveness Industry Routes, some of the more common task collaboration. • Resourcefulness and expertise based skills are outlined, as well as their transferability. Managing thesis/ • Confidence dissertation • Multitasking As a graduate student, also consider your interpersonal writing, teaching, • Professionalism skills by asking yourself: finances, personal commitments. • Time management • What skills have you developed to become a graduate student? • In what ways have you maintained your resilience as you complete your advanced degree? • How have you faced challenges that have come your way? • What is keeping you motivated?

46 | Pursuing an Industry Path Q&A Voices of Experience

NAME Elaine Lam

JOB TITLE, COMPANY Executive Director, Business Development and Strategic Planning, The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education at Ryerson University

EDUCATION PhD, Comparative Education (Bath Spa University & Oxford University)

LINKEDIN Find me on LinkedIn to learn more about my career & education.

TWITTER @ElaineKLam

WHAT KEY STEPS DID YOU TAKE I worked on commissioned research projects and government funded TO TRANSITION FROMVOE ACADEMIA evaluation initiatives that came up through academic networks. TO INDUSTRY? Universities are full of amazing opportunities because of the intersection of public and private sectors and the opportunity to lead on community engagement initiatives. I also sought as many leadership opportunities to build my profile beyond my circle of peers and colleagues.

HOW DID YOU CONSIDER WHAT I looked at job postings for roles that I wished to pursue after graduate SKILLS WOULD BE MOST VALUED? studies. I tried to find ways to build those skills into my profile through nonprofit board opportunities, volunteer work, academic pursuits and leadership roles at my university.

IN RETROSPECT, IS THERE I may have done a post-doctoral fellowship. I think there is tremendous ANYTHING YOU WOULD HAVE personal and academic value in taking an additional year to work on DONE DIFFERENTLY? a different project after the stress of completing a Ph.D.

WHAT RESOURCES WOULD YOU Try to go to as many industry events as possible and join a myriad of RECOMMEND TO A GRADUATE professional associations. This will help you to build your awareness STUDENT CONSIDERING AN of the key trends in industry and also build your network. I would INDUSTRY PATHWAY? also recommend seeking out professional mentors in addition to your academic ones.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU HAVE Keep an open mind - it’s hard to see where the potential for opportunities FOR A GRADUATE STUDENT lie. Try to keep up with your research profile if you can - it has a lot of CONSIDERING AN INDUSTRY clout within industry. At the same time, industry leaders also value great PATHWAY? analytical and critical thinking skills and experience. Making a strong first impression is important.

Pursuing an Industry Path| 47 Competency + Enjoyment is a Winning Formula Not only have you created a transferable skills inventory that is unique to you, but you can now: ‘Competency + enjoyment’ is a good formula for assessing how much you like using a particular skill • Speak to these skills enthusiastically and genuinely set in an associated activity. Competency means when networking, on your resume, and in a job that you can consistently perform the skill at a high level. interview. Enjoyment refers to whether you actually like using that • Conduct labour market research from a skills based skill. For example: You may be competent at academic perspective, to locate job opportunities that address writing, but not enjoy it. You may enjoy research but it your competencies and enjoyment. See chapter one, does not come easily to you. on the career development process, and chapter Consider the benefits of working on a skill you enjoy three, on the transferable skills inventory, to locate but have not yet mastered, as opposed to continuing these examples. to engage with a skill that comes naturally to you but you • Have examples of your personal, academic, and work don’t enjoy. You can tell if you enjoy using a skill in an experiences on hand to demonstrate how you put activity because you look forward to applying it, you lose your unique set of skills into action. track of time, and afterwards you feel energized rather • Demonstrate a complete skill set that speaks to than depleted. your expertise, completion of tasks, and interpersonal Building Your Inventory capabilities. By choosing vocations that are focused on your It’s important to bear in mind that using a ‘competency + strengths, you can build a career that will not only be enjoyment’ formula to complete your transferable skills engaging, but will allow you to perform at your best. This inventory will take some reflection and analysis. level of competency will not go unnoticed. 1. Recall a personal, academic, or work experience that involved an accomplishment you felt proud of and was meaningful to you. Further Reading 2. Reflect on and list all of the skills you used to achieve this milestone, by fleshing out step by step how you went about carrying out the activity/ies. On transferable skills and strengths:

3. Assess which skills in your list meet your • What Color is Your Parachute? by Richard Bolles ‘competency + enjoyment’ criteria. Go through this • Now, Discover Your Strengths by Donald O. Clifton and process several times, with different scenarios from Marcus Buckingham personal, academic, and work experiences.

4. Identify a pattern around the skills you are consistently using that meet your ‘competency + enjoyment’ criteria and note whether they are task, expertise, or interpersonally oriented.

48 | Pursuing an Industry Path Resume Template

Contact Information

The first section of any resume begins with your contact information.

• Include your name, address, email address and phone number • Tip: Your name should be in bold and 2 – 3pts. larger than the rest of the font

Example Fatima Jaffer 280 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, M6H 4H1 [email protected] | 416-979-5177

Profile

This statement outlines what you have to offer, in 2-3 sentences or bulleted points. Consider it a brief introduction to key highlights of your professional self.

• Include highlights of your experience, education, and job-specific skills • Include your specialty or are of expertise • Include how you desire to contribute to that specific employer Example

Example

A graduate trained professional with 3+ years experience in retail management. Specializes in maximizing site profits throughprofits through employee employee retention retention and efficient and efficient inventory inventory control. control.Now seeking Now toseeking contribute to contribute to my experience, to my experience, skills and expertiseskills and expertiseto the management to the management team at Canadian team at CanadianTire. Tire.

Highlights of Qualifications

• Include 5-6 bullet points displaying a range of your most impressive achievements, skills, traits, and experience relevant to the position for which you are applying • An optional and customized section, which can also be used as a technical skills section

Example

• Conducted three comprehensive psycho-social assessments of research data in determining provincial mandated treatment

Education

• List your degrees in chronological order • Include degree and institution name * You may wish to include your thesis/dissertation title if you are applying to a research focused opportunity or a position which compliments your thesis/dissertation topic and research. In this case, best practice is to also include your supervisor’s name.

Pursuing49 | Pursuing an Industry an Industry Path| Path 49 Example

PhD, Policy Studies, Ryerson University, Toronto 2017 – present Thesis: Ontario’s Mental Health Act and The Role of Race and Gender as a Determining Factor for Mandated Treatment Supervisor: Dr. Maria Lyn

Masters of Social Work (MSW), Ryerson University, Toronto 2015 Research Project: Social Stigma of Mental Health Counselling For Children

Experience

• Include relevant experiences inside and outside of academia, that speak to your transferable skill set. • Include position title, name of organization, date, and 2-3 bulleted points outlining what you achieved, how you achieved it, and what the positive outcome was. • Use multiple section headers for your experience if applicable. • Possible section headers can include: Relevant Experience; Research & Project Experience; Academic Projects

Example (Teaching)

Teaching Assistant, Ryerson University 2018 – present Course Title: Political Processes in Canada [POL 102 - Undergraduate Course] • Organized tutorial discussion and activities that provided students an understanding of a political economy approach to the Canadian political process

Example (Academic)

Research Assistant 2016 – 2017 Wellesley Institute, Toronto, ON • Conducted literature searches, article reviews, inter-jurisdictional comparisons on complex fiscal and social policy issues, and prepared summary of findings • Managed and analyzed quantitative/qualitative data to develop final research report

Example (Non Academic)

Project Coordinator 2014 – 2015 Civic Connect, Toronto, ON • Collaborated with Executive Director on fund development, grant writing and reporting which resulted in the acquisition of $200,000 in funding for the organization • Prepared project evaluation reports and delivered presentations to various stakeholders on project design and impact

Volunteer Experience (if applicable)

• Here you can highlight your unpaid or charitable work experience • This is a great opportunity to demonstrate your service to your community, inside and outside of the academy

50 | Pursuing anan IndustryIndustry Path Path Example

Mental Health Specialist (Volunteer) 2016 - 2017 Access Alliance, Toronto, ON • Leveraged active listening techniques and cognitive behavioural therapy to counsel newcomer youth and children • Co-facilitated 5 psycho education workshops on children’s depression and anxiety to parents and guardians within the Greater Toronto Area

Professional Development

• Here you can highlight relevant awards and honors and the date received. • For licenses, webinars, and certifications, include knowledge and skills gained. • Include professional membership(s) that you hold, especially if they demonstrate commitment to your preferred sector and industry.

Example

Certificates: 2018 Motivational Interviewing, University of Ottawa Utilize motivational interviewing as a counselling technique to elicit behavioural change in clients.

Professional Membership: 2017- present Ontario College of Social Workers

Ryerson Career & Co-Op Centre Build Your Career for Life

Receive tailored, graduate level advising on: • Academic and Industry Career Planning • Labour Market Research • CV and Resume Development and Review • Job Search Strategies • Personal Branding and Networking Skills • Interview Techniques Alumni may access Career & Co-op Centre services up to 5 years after graduation. Get in touch: Visit ryerson.ca/career/ to book a 1:1 appointment and register for workshops,Pursuing an Industry car Path|eer 51 fairs, and experiential learning opportunities. • Professional association websites and newsletters Resumes: Top Tips & • LinkedIn company pages Core Points • Industry and sector blogs and magazines These added details in your resume will help you to The purpose of a resume is to demonstrate to a frame your professional candidacy. potential employer why you are the most suitable candidate, and how your graduate training and Accomplishment statements describe your other qualifications can add value to the company or achievements in the experience section of your resume. organization you’re applying to. Impactful statements should:

Keep in mind that a resume may be requested for a) Highlight your relevant knowledge and both academic and non academic positions, so it is transferable skills: good to have an up-to-date resume and CV on file. • Review the job posting and identify the skills and Generic “one size” fits all resumes are cited as one of knowledge you have that are required to perform each the key reasons why applicants fail to secure interviews. duty In fact, 63% of recruiters stated they want tailored • Think of relevant examples from your academic resumes from applicants. Additionally, studies have projects, research, work, and service that demonstrate shown that recruiters spend as little as 6 seconds how you have used those particular skills reviewing a resume to determine if an applicant is a viable candidate. To increase your chances of being b) Emphasize what you accomplished in a particular selected for an interview, your resume must be concise role: and customized.

Action Start each accomplishment Template & Tips: statement with an impactful action word. Demonstrate what actions you Resume took to complete your tasks.

Use your transferable skills to speak 91% OF EMPLOYERS to your actions. PREFER THEIR CANDIDATES TO HAVE 91% Duty Outline the tasks you achieved and WORK EXPERIENCE, what techniques and methodologies AND 65% OF THEM you used to achieve them. PREFER THEIR CANDIDATES TO HAVE Result/ End your statement highlighting the RELEVANT WORK 65% Purpose value you added by achieving these EXPERIENCE. tasks using the actions you took. - NACE Job Outlook, 2017 How did the organization benefit from your contribution? What impact Creating a Customized did you make? Why was it important? Resume Requires Tips for Newcomers to Canada and International Preparation and Research Students:

Start by analyzing the entire job posting to • Do not include a picture of yourself identify desired qualifications and keywords. • Refrain from including any personal information such Utilize sector focused language to articulate your skills as: marital status, immigration status or whether you and experiences. Refer to the following resources to have children familiarize yourself with sector terminology: • Speak to your working knowledge of multiple • Company website languages instead of stating you are taking English language courses • Annual industry reports

52 | Pursuing an Industry Path • Provide a 1-2 sentence synopsis of each international Converting Your CV to a Resume organization in the experience section of your resume. This will familiarize readers with the size, scope, and When converting your CV to a resume, you will offerings of your previous employers. probably need to omit some of your achievements i.e (publications, speaking engagements ). It can be hard • Identify if your educational credentials have been to remove hard earned academic credentials but try assessed by a designated Canadian organization. to view it as an exciting opportunity to present your professional profile in a new way. Retain those which are most applicable to the role you are applying for and the Canadian Organizations Assessing Education most recent. Credentials: For your resume to be digestible by a wider audience World Education Services Canada (WES) you will want to translate your academic language to International Credential Assessment Service of relatable terms within the industry. Keep your resume Canada (ICAS) to two pages by using bullet points and selecting details that are relevant to your target position. Comparative Education Service: Academic Credential Assessment (CES) Always ask yourself:

How does this academic qualification demonstrate my suitability for the position? Additional Tips: As you write your resume, keep in mind that it’s about • Length shouldn’t exceed 2 pages. quality, not quantity. • Use standard business font such as Arial, Calibri or Verdana, and be consistent throughout. • Refrain from using personal pronouns such as “I”, “me”, “my”. • Use bullet points as opposed to paragraphs, so that it’s easy for the reader to find what they are looking for. • Avoid using abbreviations and academic jargon. Use language that can be easily understood by a non- academic audience. • Provide context for all skills highlighted on your resume, don’t merely list them. • Be sure time is taken to tailor your resume to the position.

Resume Formats:

In addition to a chronological resume, you have the option of formatting your resume as a:

• Functional resume • Focuses on skills and competencies related to a position • Relevant experiences are grouped under 3-4 main skill categories

• Combination resume • Combines elements from chronological and functional formats • Highlights skills and lists your experiences in reverse chronological order

Pursuing an Industry Path| 53 Industry Cover Letter Template

Insert your contact information here to match your resume details exactly.

Your Name (bold, size 14) Your address, city, province, postal code • phone number • email • social media (size 11)

Name of Recipient Recipient’s Title Name of Department Name of University Address City, Province, Postal Code Date:

Re: Insert Title of Position (insert Job # if applicable)

Dear [Professional title, followed by first and last name],

The introduction should capture the reader’s attention, by speaking to content that would be of immediate interest. Options for the first line include: reference to a common acquaintance who advised you of the opening,outlining a relevant accomplishment in your career, highlighting transferable skills that you have honed through graduate training and experiential learning, or showcasing the research you have conducted on the employer, and why you want to work for them as a result. Note the job title of the vacancy and where it was advertised, if applicable, in this first line. The first paragraph will also allow you tobriefly introduce your previous experience and education as it is applicable to the position you are applying for. It is key to tailor this so that the reader is intrigued and wants to learn more. Your opening paragraph should be no more than a few lines in length.

The format of this paragraph, and those that follow, will vary depending how you would like to focus on your relevant education, skills, and experience. Choose to highlight what will be most notable to your reader, from their industry perspective. Share key accomplishments and how they have prepared you to transition into your industry. Speak to how you envision using your education and skills to add value to the employer’s product development, clientele, workplace, sector, and/or industry.

If the position you are applying for is research focused, speak to your own graduate research, and specifically, why it is unique. Carefully consider how your research lends itself to our knowledge based economy. It may not be your research itself (unlike for an academic position), but instead, how it has built on, progressed, and expanded societal, economic, and/or technological innovation and thought leadership. Consider always how your research meets the employer’s need and focus on making explicit connections between your work and the employer’s mandate.

Further evidence of sector accomplishments can be shared here. Examples may include conferences attended, keynote addresses, volunteer or committee work. Make reference to ongoing professional development such as: workshops, training courses, and designations received.

In the closing paragraph, make reference to any additional application materials that are included, whether in hand or online, as well as one to two lines summarizing how the combination of your experiences makes you ideally suited to the role. A request for an interview should be included here, and a note of thanks for the potential employer’s consideration. Your industry focused cover letter should be no more than one page.

Sincerely,

First name, Last Name

Enclosure: (e.g.) Resume, Application

54 | Pursuing an Industry Path Industry Cover Letter: General Tips for Crafting an Top Tips and Core Effective Cover Letter For both academic and industry positions, while Points similarities can be found in what is required of cover letters (e.g. formatting, aspects of speaking to your Your cover letter is an opportunity to highlight your most audience), there are also distinct differences. A transferable and relevant accomplishments to date. It compilation of key pointers: will entice your reader to want to learn more about you as they begin to visualize the well rounded, dynamic, Formatting: and unique professional you’ve become. • The layout and format should match your resume so Use the cover letter as an opportunity to describe: that it reflects a personal letterhead. your experiences, knowledge of your industry, research • Use standard business font, and be consistent interests, and skills, and how these are best suited to the throughout. company or organization you’re applying to. • Choose a font which is easy to read (e.g. Arial, Calibri A well written cover letter is an essential element of any or Verdana), including size 14 for your name, and size job application. In, fact, without one, the application is 11 for the content in the body. not complete. Always send a cover letter along with • Ensure a clean copy free of typos and grammatical your resume, even if it is not explicitly requested. An errors. industry cover letter should be one page in length. Speaking to Your Audience:

• Research the company you are applying to, as well as the person(s) who will interview you, if known. If you understand your audience, it will be easier to highlight the life and work experiences that will resonate with them. The best cover letters are both relevant and resonate with the reader’s own experiences. Corporate job openings attract • Words are important. Learn the ‘lingo’ of your industry and infuse this into your cover letter so that 250 you are speaking their language. resumes • Address your cover letter to a specific person, rather than “To Whom It May Concern” or “Hiring Manager”. If the job posting does not indicate the name of the hiring manager, then do your best to find their name by asking your contacts, calling the Out of these candidates company or searching online. • If you are unable to address the cover letter to the 4-6 hiring manager, delete the salutation altogether. will be Instead, name the position in bold a couple of lines interviewed above the introductory paragraph (Re: position title). • Avoid insincere flattery. Instead, reflect carefully on why you are applying for a given position, and try to make a genuine and valuable connection. Only 1 will get a job offer

- Glassdoor

Pursuing an Industry Path| 55 Highlighting Your International Experience

Best Practices Tips

Speak to your skills as they Include: relate to, and are in reference to, our global economy. • Analytical skills in a global context • Cross-cultural communication • Flexibility due to your experiences • Geographical knowledge • Proficiency in multiple languages

Demonstrate your Highlight how your journey from abroad to Canada exemplifies your adaptability adaptability to new to Canadian society. circumstances.

Show your awareness of Include any training or life experiences where you have gained insight and/or global economic and political addressed these issues from a professional standpoint. issues and realities you have dealt with.

Confidently speak to Consider how the work and learning you were doing in a different context your experiences, instead to Canada offers you a different perspective from another candidate. While of downplaying your time two jobs in a resume may look the same, they can play out quite differently abroad. depending on the geographical and cultural environment.

Give credit to the skills Consider how you navigated your lifestyle in your home country. How does it you used in daily life, and differ to your life in Canada? What challenges have you had to overcome, and not just while working and how did you do so? All of these demonstrate, for instance: agility, adaptability learning. and ability to problem solve in unfamiliar situations.

56 | Pursuing an Industry Path 5. Diversify your approach when applying for Planning Your Industry jobs, as opposed to solely seeking opportunities online. 70-80% of jobs are not openly advertised, Job Search but instead marketed within hiring managers’ and organizations’ networks, often through an informal Securing an industry job, commensurate with your referral process. Against this reality, leveraging skills, experience, education, and interests, requires you your existing network, befriending new industry to strategize as a job seeker. Before you begin writing contacts, and continuing to get exposure to job applications, develop a thorough understanding of sectors via professional development are key in the job market by researching job postings, in order to locating relevant opportunities in the hidden job effectively source and identify viable opportunities. market.

The following preparation provides a solid foundation for your job search process: The Importance of

1. Based on your industry research (see Chapter Networking 1, What’s Out There) and your preferred skill set (Chapter 3, Skills Inventory), pay attention to When conducting an industry job search, your network occupations and job titles that pop up that speak is your greatest resource, yielding benefits such as: to the traits you most desire in an occupation. Often, job titles will vary between organizations, • Opportunities to learn about what you like, dislike, companies, and sectors. Categorize the different and are talented at job titles you discover, as you will develop a list of keyword titles that you can use during your online • Up to date insight on industries, sectors, employers, job search. and roles • Becoming part of a community of knowledgeable professionals Tip: refer to your skills inventory, based on your • Access to the hidden job market ‘competencies and enjoyment’ to guide your industry research [i.e. researching sectors, identifying job • Mentorship opportunities titles and job descriptions] In order to get the most out of your network, when seeking a role in industry, it’s important to define for 2. Research the sectors, companies, and yourself: departments that are hiring for the job titles you’ve identified. Consider what kind of workplace appeals What is my purpose in networking? most to you. For example, data scientists can work in tech startups, financial institutions, or market • Applied learning research and analytic firms. All will advertise the • Career exploration position of data scientist, but the workplace cultures • Gaining experience and expectations could be quite different from one another. • Labour market insight • Job searching 3. Analyze a minimum of 10 job postings for an occupation, to identify trends and learn about • Seeking mentorship the common skills and qualifications required. • Building professional relationships This will help you to frame your own professional brand on social media, within your network, and on Who do I want to network with? applications, highlighting how you’ve applied these skills as part of your graduate and work experience. • Early career professionals

4. Stand out after submitting an online application by • Experienced professionals using social media and your network to reach out • Hiring managers to a hiring manager or employee, to inform them of • Industry thought leaders your submitted application and your interest in the opportunity. However, also keep in mind that some • Recruiters job postings request no further engagement after an application is submitted and it’s important to respect these barometers.

Pursuing an Industry Path| 57 Q&A Voices of Experience

NAME Dali Chabaane

JOB TITLE, COMPANY Senior Talent Acquisition & Employer Branding Specialist, Paysafe Group

LINKEDIN Find me on LinkedIn to learn more about my career & education.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT Successful PhD hires know what they want, know who they are, and A SUCCESSFUL PHD understand where their potential fit is within a company, by focusing on HIRE? HOW DID THEY leveraging their strengths. These candidates stand out by knowing themselves and COMMUNICATE THEIR their target very well. VALUE? IN WHAT WAYS DID THEY STAND OUT?

WHAT ARE EFFECTIVE Focus on the experiences you’ve had, rather than the ones you haven’t. This is WAYS THAT GRADUATE a winning approach to showcase your transferable skills. If you can show the STUDENTS CAN right level of confidence while demonstrating how these skills bring value to the ARTICULATE THEIR company and its team, you will leave a great impression. TRANSFERABLE SKILLS IN AN INTERVIEW?

WHAT ADVICE CAN YOU Replace your career objective with a performance focused profile, using OFFER FOR RESUMES keywords that reflect the role you are applying for in your targeted industry. WHEN TRANSITIONING TO INDUSTRY?

WHAT TRENDS ARE We are beginning to see more graduate students display confidence when YOU SEEING AMONG approaching companies. They take the time to evaluate their options and ask GRADUATE STUDENT more career related questions. They understand that companies are pressured to APPLICANTS? secure top talent, so they maximize their chances by aligning their abilities to a company’s long-term goals.

WHAT ARE THE KEY With major structural changes happening across markets, uncertainty becomes REASONS YOU SOURCE a key factor in our daily operations. PhD applicants are comfortable with PHD APPLICANTS? uncertainty and they even thrive from it. They also have the capacity to create information as opposed to just consuming it, and that’s a major transferable skill.

58 | Pursuing an Industry Path Once you have decided on your ‘purpose + network contact’, you can begin targeted outreach:

Where to Look What to Do How to Find It

Volunteer • Volunteer to learn what you like, dislike, and • Not for profits associated with your Opportunities are talented at industry, including professional • Take on additional responsibilities, if available, associations, national associations, to apply your skill set and charitable organizations focusing on a specific cause • Speak to other volunteers about what they’ve learned and gained from their experience

Events • Meet employers and recruiters at trade • Professional association calendars shows • Local Board of Trade and Chamber of • Receive up to date industry research at Commerce event listings conferences • Social media platforms • Contribute to discussions at ‘lunch & learns’ • Meetup groups sessions and networking breakfasts • Eventbrite • Learn about professional associations • Demonstrate your own thought leadership in knowledge sharing forums

Informational • Learn about an employer • Leverage your existing network Interviews • Get insight into an industry or role • Search social media to connect and • Receive professional advice request informational interviews • Demonstrate how you add value • Attend in-person networking events • Grow your industry contact list

University Career • Connect with industry professionals at: • Visit your centre’s events calendar Centres • Career fairs or subscribe to their newsletter for updates on upcoming events • Employer information sessions • Industry panels • Networking nights

Advisory Boards • Leverage your transferable skills and/or • Locate a board associated with a expertise by applying to become a board company or organization you wish to member at an organization, company or learn more about foundation • Inform fellow members of your career goals

Hobby/Interest • Network informally with individuals who share • Attend activities relevant to your Groups an interest and may also be working in your hobbies and / or interests in your desired industry local community like meetups and • Let your non-academic network know of your community networking groups professionals goals

Pursuing an Industry Path| 59 10 Tips to Becoming a Confident Networker Speaking with Industry 1. If possible, study the attendee list prior to an event to learn more about your audience. Professionals

2. Conduct research on industry speakers and prepare When reaching out to a contact, start the conversation relevant questions to engage in conversation. by introducing yourself and the purpose of engagement. 3. Bring business cards. A sample opening script:

4. Practice your self-introduction.* “Hello/dear X. My name is X and I am an X graduate student. I am 5. Come up with a list of conversation starters. currently engaged in career exploration and one of the occupations that I am considering pursuing is X. Would 6. Approach group conversations with an open and I be able to set up an appointment for an informational welcoming stance. interview to speak with you for 20-30 minutes? 7. Focus on your audience by asking open-ended Based on your experience in X, I’d welcome learning further questions. about X and would value your insight as I explore X career path. I appreciate that schedules can be tight and would be 8. Listen attentively, display genuine interest in happy to make this a phone call if more suitable”. responses, and offer topical insights. Trend Questions 9. Request a business card and social media Used as a conversation starter to engage the interviewee by information to exit a conversation. encouraging them to share their perspective.

10. Connect with new contacts 24-48 hours after an 1. What trends are having the most influence on your event to highlight something you enjoyed about your organization? conversation or their presentation, and thank them for their time. 2. How has your organization changed since you first started?

*Self Introduction 3. How do you think it will change in the next few It is best to prepare your self introduction prior years? to networking and tailor it accordingly: Insight Questions Who you are - First and last name; current role or Build rapport with the interviewee by shifting the focus from academic / career status. the organization to themselves as a working professional.

Interesting detail about yourself - area of interest or 1. What’s the best lesson you’ve learned in your current speciality; a curiosity that can be addressed by your role? contact. 2. What has been your most valuable experience at Your purpose for connecting - The information or your organization? Why? resources you are looking for. 3. What skills or traits have contributed to your success? Maintaining Your Network Advice Questions Nurture ongoing relationships with your network by: Reframe the network contact’s role from expert to mentor. • Sending personalized holiday e-cards or handwritten 1. What steps should I be taking to transition into this cards. field? • Congratulating your contacts on career milestones. 2. What can I do to stand out among other candidates? • Sharing interesting articles, blog posts, or webinars. • Inviting your contacts to industry events you will be 3. If I got hired, what could I do in the first 60 days to attending. ensure success? • Offer insights on their social media posts.

60 | Pursuing an Industry Path Resource Questions Find out who your network contact gains insight from when they require information pertaining to their industry, role, or future career planning.

1. What resources do you recommend I look into to remain current with industry trends?

2. Is there anyone else you recommend I reach out to?

Assignment Questions Become informed of projects that are in demand and valued within your industry.

1. What projects have you worked on for your employer that you felt added the most value?

2. Has your organization hired interns in the past? If so, what projects have they completed?

3. What projects are top priority in your organization currently?

Further Reading

On job searching:

• The 2-Hour Job Search: Using Technology to Get the Right Job Faster by Steve Dalton • Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time by Keith Ferrazzi

Interviewing Trends for Hiring:

59% 54% 53% 28% 18%

Soft skills Job Meeting Virtual Video assessments auditions in casual reality interviews settings assessments

- Recruitment Statistics, 2018: Trends & Insights in Hiring Talented Candidates, talentnow, 2018

Pursuing an Industry Path| 61 to ensure they’re ok with you taking notes during the Industry Interviews: interview. Points to Consider Take your time when answering questions. It’s better to take a moment to collect your thoughts, and follow with Interviewing for industry opportunities is a chance a complete answer. for you to show your industry knowledge, and how Be detailed and concise in your delivery. Interviewers your experience, skills, and education align with the are assessing whether you have effective communication employer’s goals. skills. Research the organization and make sure you Close the interview with questions for the interviewers. understand their mission and values. Also, take the time Prepare 5-6 questions that demonstrate your curiosity to familiarize yourself with the products and services about the organization, department, interviewer, and they offer, their clients, and their online resources. role. Review the job description and prepare relevant Follow up with a brief e-mail within 24 hours and no examples for each one of the responsibilities and later than 48 hours after your interview to thank your qualifications listed.It’s ok if you don’t have relevant interviewers. In your e-mail, express appreciation for experience for everything, as you can focus on how their time, and re-articulate your interest in the role. you’ve applied, in other contexts, the skills and knowledge they’re asking for. Types of industry Interview Questions

Tip: A common interview pitfall is when candidates Behavioural Used to assess a particular skill repeat examples when answering interview questions. Questions you’ve used in the past. Refer to different projects and accomplishments in your answers to give the interviewer a robust overview Based on the notion that past of your skills and abilities. performance is indicative of future performance.

Practice your interview responses out loud in front of Successful answers include a mirror, with a friend, and via a mock interview at your relevant examples. career centre. Ask for feedback on your body language, delivery, and content. Use the STAR method to answer these questions. Answer interview questions using the STAR method, an effective way to frame your answers. Situational Used to assess how you would Questions perform in a hypothetical Situation Build out the specific situation you situation. were in when completing a task. When framing your answer demonstrate your resourcefulness Task Describe the responsibility you had and analytical skills. to accomplish. Incorporate any organizational Action Outline the steps you took, and the policies, protocols, mission skills you used, to complete your statement(s), and values of the task. organization.

Result Deliver the positive outcome from taking that specific action and An overview of different types of interviews can be mention improvements resulting found in chapter two. from your action.

Your industry job search will require preparation, Bring a blank notepad to take notes and ensure you strategy and diligence. It’s important to invest effort don’t miss pertinent information in answering questions. into all three components: job search, networking and You may check with the interviewer(s) ahead of time interviewing to guarantee results.

62 | Pursuing an Industry Path Pursuing an Industry Path| 63 “ Having transitioned from an undergraduate degree in the sciences, to a Media Production Masters, I was constantly challenged to innovate and redefine my work and career path. In order to pursue my ambition of becoming an independent media producer, I sought out and gained support and inspiration by engaging with a well-rounded, diverse, and creative community of peers, faculty, student groups, and my career centre. This has enabled me to push my creative boundaries, expand my network, and hone my entrepreneurial skills.

Sina, Media Productions Masters Program Transitioning to Employment

Mentorship Options Discovering Self-Employment & Entrepreneurship Negotiating Job Offers Managing & Maximizing Social Media 4 • Schedule a meeting with them so they can learn Finding a Great Mentor about your interests and goals, and have the opportunity to ask you questions. A mentor is someone who can guide, teach, and • Describe the guidance you are seeking and how they help you to develop throughout your academic and can help you (i.e. exploring a different study topic, professional career. They provide insightful advice, give entering a new field). constructive feedback, help you build your network and relationships with other potential mentors, and • Do the work and necessary follow through to take sponsor you for new opportunities and experiences. advantage of the advice or opportunities provided by your mentor (ie. attend an event, research a Graduate students should seek various types of recommended topic, or connect with a referred mentorship to help guide them with career planning contact). in their field(s) of interest. Mentorship can come from a network of diverse individuals such as advisors, faculty Length of a Mentoring Relationship: members, course instructors, career educators, industry • The length of mentor and mentee relationships can professionals, peers, thought leaders, and influencers. vary based on the needs, purpose, and expectations of both individuals. Types of Mentorship: • Some relationships will last for a long time while others • Advising - sharing of knowledge, tips, and personal will last for a short period, from just a few months to a strategies in navigating a career path. year or two. • Supporting - providing emotional and moral • There is no standard time limit, and the relationship encouragement in pursuing opportunities and can vary from monthly meetings to meeting once or professional experiences. twice a year. • Tutoring - giving constructive feedback on academic • It important to note that a mentor-mentee relationship writing, research methods, presentations, and overall varies depending on how much time and energy both performance. parties invest into fostering the relationship. • Sponsoring - sourcing, sharing, and aiding in obtaining opportunities. Consider who your prospective mentors are, or take a look at the suggested mentor networks. Having • Modeling an Identity - providing a living example of mentors in your support network to help you navigate what it means to be a responsible, ethical, engaged, your academic and professional goals and career is and balanced professional. an invaluable advantage. Those who have mentors Tips on Selecting a Mentor: will benefit tremendously in understanding their field of work, and be exposed to new opportunities, • Reflect on your personal values, goals, knowledge, relationships and experiences. skills and needs to clarify for yourself why you want a mentor. • Ask your colleagues, peers, and networks about their experiences with mentoring, and any “One of my favourite memories was at recommendations they may have for finding someone the end of a semester when a group of that can offer great mentorship to you, especially if you Black female students came to me after are seeking a mentor in your industry or field. class to say how happy they were to • Conduct informational interviews with potential have a Black woman as their instructor. mentors to assess whether they can provide you with the professional and personal guidance you need. I had been so removed from student life that I had forgotten how important my • Identify someone whose professional and personal advice you are interested in seeking and who can help presence was for Black students. This you achieve your goals. reinvigorated my teaching purpose and I continue to be available to students Tips on Asking for Mentorship: who are on the margins of academia. I When seeking a mentor, it is important to build a support and cheer on their work as they relationship with trust and rapport before asking someone. You may need to meet a few times and get to complete their studies.” know one another, and learn about each other’s career pathways and experiences. Renée, Political Studies PhD Program

66 | Transitioning to Employment Online mentorship information resources: • www.mentornetwork.ca/ - mentor-matching and community management platform. • www.tenthousandcoffees.com - mentoring platform to connect with professionals. • www.wxnetwork.com/ - networking and mentoring for female professionals. • www.leadership.civicaction.ca/eln/ - develops, connects, and activates future leaders.

Q&A Voices of Experience

NAME Michel Ghanem

JOB TITLE, COMPANY Researcher-writer and Research Assistant, Centre for Fashion Diversity & Social Change, Ryerson University

EDUCATION MA, Fashion (Ryerson University)

LINKEDIN Find me on LinkedIn to learn more about my career & education.

TWITTER @wtfmichel

WHO WAS YOUR FIRST MENTOR A colleague who I had a close working relationship with at the Charlatan AND WHAT ROLE DID THEY PLAY newspaper at Carleton University was my first mentor, and she equipped IN YOUR LIFE? me with many of the writing skills I now possess. My current mentor has also been hugely influential over the course of my master’s degree.

HOW DID YOU GO ABOUT I’m very lucky to have had mentorship opportunities develop organically. IDENTIFYING A MENTOR FOR I look for someone who understands my worldview and socio- YOURSELF? political point of view. Importantly, someone who pushes me beyond complacency to allow me to grow, but who remains empathetic as to how I can maintain longevity, particularly in academia. VOE HOW HAVE YOU NAVIGATED A I’ve learned from my mentors how to handle hard conversations that are MENTORING RELATIONSHIP TO crucial to growth, such as being vulnerable enough to know my limits and ENSURE YOU GAIN WHAT YOU make sure I’m not constantly overworked in order to simply please others. NEED? With my mentors, I ask a lot of questions, and prepare for mentorship meetings so that I know what my ask is.

WHAT TIPS AND STRATEGIES DO Academic supervisors are often chosen or requested by graduate YOU HAVE FOR GRAD STUDENTS students to be their mentors. It is crucial to find a mentor who SEEKING MENTORSHIP IN THEIR understands your sensibilities, who you feel a connection with, and INDUSTRY? who can offer you significant opportunities.

HOW HAS A MENTOR IMPACTED I have learned that the lines between friend, mentor, supervisor, and YOUR PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT? professor are often blurred. I feel comfortable allowing myself to be vulnerable and open with my mentors. This provides a mutual benefit: we each see one another more fully and allow room for personal growth as our mentoring relationship evolves.

Transitioning to Employment | 67 Exploring Where You Are: Discovering Self-Employment & Self-Starting Environments Graduate students are well suited to executing an idea Entrepreneurship or solving a problem in a work environment that allows for trial & error, flexibility, creativity and a Self-employment offers a range of opportunities to high degree of self-efficacy. This environment is a commercialize your research, tap into your passions, and draw for many self-starters. Thus, for graduate students apply the many useful skills gained through graduate seeking to increase the impact of their research, they training. While this path can appear daunting and seem should firstfocus on locating and joining self-starting like a less viable option, you can mitigate challenges environments in their community. and uncertainties by approaching self-employment through a series of steps. Begin by constructing a Examples of self-starting environments: well-considered plan. The first step here is to recognize that the journey to self-employment begins with who you • Research & innovation labs on campus are and where you are. • Business incubators • Innovation hubs Who You Are: Motivating • Co-working spaces

Factors for Self-Employment Immersing yourself in these types of environments A graduate student and a self-employed professional will help you to ease into a self-employed mindset, share character traits that stem from intrinsic motivators. as it allows space for connecting with idea founders, Commonly shared qualities are: researchers, consultants and entrepreneurs. As your network grows, there will be opportunities to cultivate • Self-starter: Demonstrates initiative and a high ability your mindset and new relationships by getting involved to organize oneself in the ideas and projects of these self-starters. • Focus: Ability to concentrate on tasks and goals • Resilience: Capacity to overcome challenges and work Leveraging Consulting through pitfalls Perspectives • Multi-skilled: Possesses skills and training in more than one area Seeking out like-minded peers to brainstorm ideas and collaborate on projects with is an excellent way to • Creative problem solving: Applies different thinking develop your experience as a consultant. Consulting is styles and processes to solve problems one of the most popular forms of self-employment. • Learner: Views personal knowledge as a resource and open to receiving mentorship Similar to a graduate student, a consultant applies comprehensive frameworks and evidence-based For example, while a graduate student uses funding to models to their work. If you are considering consulting complete their research, so too does a self-employed as a viable career option, ensure you assume the professional when initiating a project or a business. Thus, role of ‘consultant’ and not just ‘researcher’ when it is important to look beyond the content of your collaborating on projects in a self-starting environment. research, and hone the attributes that are crucial to your success as a graduate student, as these traits will Consulting perspectives that play to the strengths of also help you achieve as a self-starter. Self-assessment graduate student research include: tools such as Gallup’s Clifton StrengthsFinder could • Case interview framework assist you in this process. Also, refer to chapter three of this compass, on ‘understanding and exploring • Company, Customer, Competition framework (3C’s industry routes’, and ‘building and articulating a Model) transferable skills inventory’, to clarify this process • Benchmarking framework further for you. The inclusion of consulting perspectives into your self- starter mindset will help you develop best practices for piloting or implementing ideas within and outside of higher education.

68 | Transitioning to Employment For example, a consultant can leverage their research skills through a 3C’s Model by conducting an in-depth analysis of competitors, target customers, and business operations, to develop a go-to market strategy assisting the launch of a new product.

As you increase your knowledge in consultative approaches, you may begin to feel inspired to launch your own idea and learn how your graduate research has the potential to serve your creative purpose.

Q&A Voices of Experience

NAME Sobhan Etemadi

JOB TITLE, COMPANY Director & Product Development Manager, Sobie Systems Inc.

EDUCATION Phd, Aerospace Engineering (Ryerson) & Certified SolidWorks Expert (CSWE)

LINKEDIN Find me on LinkedIn to learn more about my career & education.

TWITTER @sobiesystems

WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO I simply wanted to create a solution to a problem I found – deaths caused from carbon BECOME THE FOUNDER OF monoxide leaks from HVAC systems. As a researcher you need to take initiative, YOUR OWN COMPANY? just as you would when starting your own company. I slowly learned how to turn the solution I had into a potential business.

WHAT TRAINING, WHILE Throughout my graduate studies I was heavily immersed in industry-university projects COMPLETING GRADUATE with my supervisor; I worked full-time at Pratt & Whitney working on aircraft engine SCHOOL, HAS HELPED YOU designs; and I tailored my thesis to be inclusive of practical applications and not just IN THE BUILDING OF YOUR theory. BUSINESS?

WHAT RESOURCES WOULD The university-linked accelerators and incubators offer mentorship and facilities that YOU RECOMMEND A cultivate innovation. Being involved with the accelerators allows you to learn GRADUATE STUDENT directly from entrepreneurs as well as leading professionals. I believe that the SEEK OUT IF THEY accelerators offer substantial resources, including funding, for those interested in ARE CONSIDERING entrepreneurship - they are worth taking advantage of. ENTREPRENEURSHIP?

WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE Nothing. Every failure I have had including all my rejected funding applications taught DONE DIFFERENTLY, WHEN me something new from the feedback I received. All the successes I have created YOU REFLECT BACK ON THE have been a direct result from all the failures. The experiences alone are something FOUNDING OF YOUR START that I would not change. UP?

WHAT KEY STEPS DID I first conducted research to assess the validity of the problem and whether it was YOU TAKE TO DEVELOP A worth investigating. I then proposed a basic set of requirements that would prove the PROTOTYPE? fundamental functionalities of the device. Over time, the requirements became more and more complex as I continued developing the prototype.

DO YOU HAVE A PROCESS We create solutions and/or enhancements based on problems we personally WHEN COMING UP WITH face or see others facing. My idea came from a problem that my father faced at work. NEW IDEAS OR ENHANCING Enhancing the device has been a highly iterative process that required continuous YOUR INNOVATION? research into patents, products, and the market.

Transitioning to Employment | 69 Becoming An Entrepreneur • Financial projections if a for-profit venture • Multi-year strategy for growth When deciding if entrepreneurship is right for you, think about which form of entrepreneurship would provide The Canadian federal government is investing the best opportunities to grow your business idea and over $2.6 billion in grants and resources to propel apply your research. innovation and help businesses scale up. This means there are several accessible resources to help For example, a sociology doctoral student collaborating you validate your idea and develop a sound plan. For on funding models in the public sector may choose example, in partnership with Canada Business Network, to start a technology social venture that develops Futurpreneur Canada offers financing and guidance to a crowdfunding app to create grassroots initiatives young entrepreneurs. Mars Discovery District provides in underserved communities. A psychology doctoral a comprehensive Entrepreneur’s Toolkit that is student may use their research on innovative counselling available online. models to launch a small business that provides counselling to couples. Self-employment can open a whole new world of opportunities for you, both as an academic and Types of Entrepreneurship: professional, and is an ongoing learning process. As you progress in your journey, you will discover your 1. Small Business Entrepreneurship motivations, new ideas, and a potential career path that A small business is a self-sustaining entity designed enriches your graduate research. to generate revenue by offering a service or product. Online Self Employment and Entrepreneurship 2. Scalable Startup Entrepreneurship Information Resources: A scalable startup focuses on fast growth to attract investors and gain market share. • www.futurpreneur.ca/en/ - apply to grants and mentorship programs 3. Social Venture Entrepreneurship A social venture delivers products and services that • www.marsdd.com/ - access online toolkits, workshops, solve societal needs and problems within a non- and events profit or for-profit model. • www.100steps2startup.com/ - access coaching and training Once you determine the type of business that is right for you, the next steps are to evaluate your idea and • www.mitacs.ca/en/programs/accelerate - find research create a business plan. partnerships with industry • www.npr.org/podcasts/510313/how-i-built-this - learn Evaluate Your Business Idea about the journeys of founders Begin by asking yourself how your idea will: • www.venturebeat.com/ - read news stories on technology and entrepreneurship • Benefit others(customer base) • www.entrepreneur.com/magazine - gain up-to-date • Offer solutions to the market (value add) insights on entrepreneurship • Stand out among other business models (assess competitors) • Secure favourable reviews as a business proposal, from peer and mentors (ensure fit for purpose)

Create a Plan

Use the information you have gathered to draft a business plan. Include: Further Reading

• Business description, registered business name and website domain On self-employment and entrepreneurship:

• Market analysis • The Lean Startup by Eric Ries • Marketing and sales strategy • Making Ideas Happen: Overcoming the Obstacles Between Vision and Reality by Scott Belsky • Funding requirements • Case Interview Secrets by Victor Cheng

70 | Transitioning to Employment Q&A Voices of Experience

NAME Diana Kraskouskaya

JOB TITLE, COMPANY CEO, Dalriada Therapeutics

EDUCATION PhD, Medicinal Chemistry (University of Toronto)

LINKEDIN Find me on LinkedIn to learn more about my career & education.

TWITTER @diana_kraskousk

WHAT TRAINING, WHILE Grad school provides unparalleled opportunities to acquire skills and training that COMPLETING GRADUATE are critical to launching and growing a start-up company. SCHOOL, HAVE YOU USED TO SUPPORT YOUR START UP IN You can essentially treat your PhD studies as a start-up: VARIOUS ROLES? 1. Managing a project you are passionate about

2. Executing a plan, reviewing outcomes, and making decisions on how to proceed

3. Developing communication skills: preparing and delivering presentations, writing scientific manuscripts, and assisting in the preparation of patent and grant applications

4. Supervising undergraduate students

However, the most important training you receive is finding answers and solutions to a set problem. We all have to troubleshoot on a daily basis and pivot several times during our studies. It’s the perseverance and resilience that you use to find alternative solutions that translates to a start-up setting.

HOW DID YOU NAVIGATE I actively sought opportunities to develop industry relevant skills. I assisted in the THE TRANSITION FROM preparation of two patent applications, familiarized myself with the patenting process, ACADEMIA TO INDUSTRY, participated in several investment pitch competitions, and took on extracurricular BOTH DURING AND AFTER opportunities to gain management experience. I not only learned how to transition to YOUR GRADUATE STUDIES? industry but also started growing my network.

WHAT RESOURCES WOULD The GTA has a strong ecosystem for supporting entrepreneurs. Campus-linked YOU RECOMMEND A accelerators and incubators are an excellent place to start. I participated in an UTEST GRADUATE STUDENT program at U of T, which gave me a great foundation in entrepreneurship and a SEEK OUT IF THEY network of advisors who have helped me along the way. ARE CONSIDERING ENTREPRENEURSHIP?

YOU ARE HIGHLY ENGAGED Social media is your best friend. It is critical that you have a strong LinkedIn profile IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL and keep it up to date with your achievements and skills. It’s the go-to platform for COMMUNITY. HOW HAS professionals to learn more about you, and, used effectively, will demonstrate THIS HELPED YOU BRAND your engagement in industry and showcase your professional interests. YOURSELF AND BUILD YOUR INDUSTRY PROFILE?

Transitioning to Employment | 71 4. Know what is and is not negotiable - If the salary Preparing For Salary being offered by the employer is fixed, and does not fall within the median salary range, consider negotiating Negotiation other components in the overall compensation package, including: vacation period, paid parking The question of salary can come up as early as when you or transit pass. Alternatively, there might be an are submitting your job application, making it important opportunity to revisit the salary after three to six months to be prepared to respond effectively.Researching (the length of a typical performance review period). salary ranges in your industry at the outset of your job search process will enable you to offer a range An employer may have more flexibility with these parts which is commensurate with your level of experience of an employment contract. If you find the difference and knowledge. between your salary expectation and the employer’s offer is too great,take some time to reflect on 1. Research typical salary ranges for your occupation whether the job may offer you other benefits - The most up to date ranges can normally be found beyond salary, such as work/life balance, proximity via industry associations, your professional or personal to home, or future growth potential. network, and salary surveys which determine the median compensation paid to an employee based on 5. Accepting or rejecting an offer: You can reject an compensation data collected from several employers. offer if there is no room for negotiation. However, know that once accepted, you need to commit. Pulling out of an offer because you received another offer will reflect Salary information guides: poorly on you and could damage your reputation in your industry. It is better to delay accepting before giving the www.glassdoor.ca - database with millions of jobs employer a response, if you anticipate another offer. plus salary information. Most employers will provide you with a written offer. www.jobbank.gc.ca/home - Canadian labour market If however, a verbal offer is made you can request a information on occupations and wages. written offer by stating that you are very enthusiastic www.roberthalf.ca/en/salary-guide - starting salaries, about the opportunity to work for the organization, and benefits and hiring trends. that you would like to review the offer in written form. www.salaryexpert.com/ - global salary and cost of If there are components of a written offer that are not living data. clear, don’t hesitate to ask human resource staff or potential managers for clarification. Other sources of support include: career education specialists in university 2. Offer a range- To provide yourself with more career centres, or legal services offered through student bargaining ability, avoid being the first to say an unions. absolute figure. Instead, if you are requested to provide your salary expectations, whether during the application process, over the phone or at an interview, be prepared to give a two to five thousand dollar range. For Further Reading example, for a median compensation range of 50-60 thousand, a new graduate can propose 50-55, while more experienced candidates can aim for 57-62 for On negotiating job offers: example. • What Colour Is Your Parachute by Richard Nelson Bolles 3. Delay the negotiation process, if necessary - If you • The Phd Handbook for the Academic Job Search: An are asked about your salary expectations in the early Owner’s Manual for Finding Jobs by Will Coghill-Behrends and Rebecca Anthony stages of an in-person interview, and you are not yet clear on the full scope of the role and its responsibilities, state that you would be happy to provide a figure once you have a better understanding of the job opportunity, your responsibilities, and/or the organization’s workplace culture.

The salary negotiation process may seem intimidating. However, it is part of the recruitment experience and most employers expect and are prepared to negotiate the salary and other terms associated with the contract.

72 | Transitioning to Employment When evaluating academic offers, there are additional Evaluating Job Offers factors to reflect on, including: teaching load, research Receiving an offer of employment provides another funding, sabbatical/leave policy, office supports, opportunity to revisit your career motivations, core technology, and summer opportunities. values, and strengths to ensure that you will In term of salaries, employers generally aim to ultimately accept an offer that aligns best with the compensate based on industry standards. New preferences uncovered during the “Who Am I?” stage graduates with limited experience are usually offered of your career development journey. salaries towards the lower end of industry salary ranges, Asking questions during the interview process about the and more experienced candidates towards the higher employer’s workplace culture and strategic vision will end. Having evaluated the offer holistically, it is important also allow you to evaluate and assess for fit. to note that if you assess the offer to be fair, there is no need to negotiate. Graciously accept the offer and Assessing an offer for overall compensation is another thank the employer. step in the evaluation process. Compensation is comprised of various components, of which salary is only Your evaluation, however, may uncover an opportunity one part. to enhance the offer in order to more accurately reflect your market value. If that is the case, you can initiate a Consider and evaluate: medical and other benefits negotiation process. including pension options, personal and sick days, tuition and other reimbursement, perks, vacation allotment, stock or other investment options and technical equipment.

Sample Responses for Accepting or Declining a Job Offer

Accepting an Offer Declining an Offer

Dear first name, last name (first name is acceptable if Dear first name, last name (first name is acceptable if you have already addressed them as such during the you have already addressed them as such during the interview process). interview process). I am very excited to accept the offer for the College It was a pleasure to meet you and your colleagues during Instructor position. Please find attached the signed offer the interview process for the Research Scientist position. letter as requested. I am not sure where you are in the hiring process, but I As we discussed, I will be able to start on October 30, as I wish to inform you that I must withdraw my application, will be out of town from October 23-28. Should you need as I have accepted a similar position at another to reach me while I’m away, feel free to call my cell at: organization. 416-569-4545. Thank you again for your consideration, and all the best I am looking forward to applying my strengths and with your recruitment process. experience and making a valuable contribution as a new addition to your competent team. Sincerely, Your first and last name Thank you once again for the opportunity.

Sincerely, Your first and last name

Negotiating Job Offers

75% AMONG WORKERS WHO RESPONDED TO PAYSCALE’S SURVEY, 57 PER CENT SAID THEY’D NEVER NEGOTIATED SALARY IN THEIR CURRENT FIELD. 57% BUT, 75 PER CENT OF PEOPLE WHO ASK FOR AN INCREASE RECEIVE A RAISE. - Payscale, 2018

Transitioning to Employment | 73 how it is being promoted, and what hashtag (#) is being Managing and used. Maximizing Your Social Most importantly, focus on one or two accounts and maintain an active presence. The key is to keep what you do have well developed and up-to-date, as opposed Media to starting multiple, incomplete ones. What if there was a tool that had near universal adoption among employers, and could help you land your next great opportunity by offeringspace for Managing & you to network and share your experience through Maximizing Social presentations, media, photographs, and projects? Media Along with traditional methods for job search and recruitment such as online job boards, recruitment 87% OF RECRUITERS agencies, and employee referrals, almost 91% of USE LINKEDIN TO employers and recruiters are using social media to CHECK CANDIDATES. source talent for their organizations. 87% - Jobvite Recruiter Nation Report, 2016 In addition, employers also use social media to share their own culture, values, current initiatives and strategic plans. Leveraging this up to date information is an excellent way to learn and understand how you can best align your values and interests with your industry, Developing a Presence on and stand out amongst other candidates. Social Media Knowledge Get a professional profile photo

Mobilization Tools • Use a headshot: it should be a close-up featuring your face and eyes. Social media platforms are great knowledge mobilization tools. Among the most prominent are: • Have a clean background: make sure the background isn’t busy so that you can remain the focal point of the • LinkedIn is a popular tool for recruiting and connecting photo. with individuals from diverse industries. • Avoid vacation selfies: your profile picture should only • Twitter is effective for thought leadership and engaging feature you in a professional setting. in virtual discussions by using the #hashtag feature. • Use the same profile image across your social media • Instagram is used by employers to promote their profiles: This ensures a consistent brand, and helps companies as a top employer of choice. make it easier for people to recognize you when seeing • Facebook is used to showcase a company’s work your profile image across the different platforms, at a culture and community building events. networking event, or conference.

These platforms can offer you a network of professionals and thought leaders to share articles with, track Visit your career centre to locate LinkedIn profile career pathways, and read up on research and work. headshot appointments with a professional photographer. While the above tools are a starting point, consider the hundreds of other social media tools you can access to learn about and network with your target Show potential employers how well you industry. For example, MeetUp.com offers specific communicate networking or community building events by geographic area or target industry. • Construct a written social media profilethat is free of spelling, punctuation, and grammar mistakes. Don’t know where to start? Google your target • Upload samples of projects you worked on, add industry, professional association, or thought leader links to your blog, and share relevant content, adding to find out what social media tool they are most your own thoughtful insight and commentary. active on and using. If attending a conference, find out

74 | Transitioning to Employment Showcase your industry knowledge in your target industry? What are your connections saying or sharing? • Share content that is relevant to your industry on your own profile, such as a photo of you attending an • Set goals for yourself and gamify the process. For industry conference along with the event’s #hashtag. example, make it a goal to tweet five times a week and add three connections on LinkedIn each month. • Comment on industry thought pieces to demonstrate you are up to date with the trends and issues in your field. Online social media information resources: • www.blog.hootsuite.com - manage your schedule for Augment your resume posts and updates. • Take advantage of features on social media • www.conversationprism.com - view a variety of social platforms that allow you to highlight your media tools at a glance. accomplishments. • blog.bufferapp.com - manage your scheduled posts • Upload dynamic content like videos, photos, and and updates. infographics showcasing your work. • www.meetup.com - locate in-person networking and • Share and comment on other research in blog posts. community events. • www.linkedin.com - connect to the world’s largest Your social media presence will be available to professional network. employers and recruiters 24 hours a day, 7 days • www.facebook.com - connect to the world’s largest a week social media network. • Even while you are not actively applying for • twitter.com - get real-time online news and social opportunities, an up to date social media networking. profile can illustrate to potential employers • www.instagram.com - tap into the creative, image- how well you communicate, the type of work based life of industry. or research you are interested in, and elements of your personality (hobbies, volunteer causes, etc.) that align with an employer’s work culture.

Build a network

• Connect with industry professionals in a more informal social media setting to be referred to various opportunities such as conferences, job opportunities, professional associations, and collaborative projects. • Applicants who get referred by a contact have over a 13 times better chance of getting a job than when applying through a job board. • Access the ‘hidden’ job market and tap into 80% of jobs that never get posted and are only found through networking. Refer to chapter three on effective networking strategies.

Make social media part of your routine

• Once you have a well written social media profile and have targeted the appropriate social channels to connect with industry, make sharing and engaging on social media part of your daily routine. • Use social media management tools to schedule your posts ahead of time and across multiple platforms. • Use your calendar to build 15 minutes into your day to check on your social accounts: What is making news

Transitioning to Employment | 75 Top Tips to Maximize LinkedIn Benefits

• Hone in on a geographic area.

Use the advanced search option under ‘Filters’ to target • Gain insight on up-to-date job titles of professionals. companies, industries, or schools.

Maximize your profile for recruiters by reviewing profiles • Embedding keywords of your target industry will of people in your target industry to see what language showcase your relevant skills. they use.

Take the time to personalize your LinkedIn invites when • Catch the eye and interest of your desired contacts by wanting to connect. coming across as genuine.

Use LinkedIn to track career pathways within your • Insight into how a career pathway can evolve and what targeted industry and workplaces. you can do to successfully get started.

Join up to 50 LinkedIn Groups. • LinkedIn views members of the same group as first degree connections, which will broaden your network substantially.

Follow industry thought leaders. • Stay up to date on industry trends that you can share at interviews.

Upload dynamic content to LinkedIn, such as videos, • Highlight, using visual aids, your accomplishments to documents, photos, and links to websites on your your professional network and recruiters. summary and experience sections.

Leverage the ‘Communities’ tab in your dashboard by • Following #hashtags keeps you up to date on the following #hashtags on LinkedIn. latest industry trends or company news. • The #hashtags can be tailored giving you a more customized news feed on your dashboard.

Post professional status updates, share relevant content • Showcases your industry knowledge and thought to your target industry, and comment on articles. leadership skills. • Bonus: you can link your updates to your Twitter account.

Use the ‘Write An Article’ feature in the status update • Demonstrate your expertise in your field by publishing bar. a long-form post on LinkedIn (similar to a blog post).

Review job postings to see if you know who is posting or • Referrals are viewed by recruiters and HR first. if LinkedIn recommends a connection for a referral. • Reference the job poster’s name in your cover letter - it makes for an instant connection.

Follow your University and alumni network on LinkedIn. • See where alumni are working and send an invitation first to connect with them, when asking for referrals or informational interviews.

76 | Transitioning to Employment Q&A Voices of Experience

NAME Sonal Bhadane

JOB TITLE, COMPANY Global Product Specialist / Clinical Solutions Leader, Elekta Ltd

EDUCATION MSc, Biomedical Physics (Ryerson University)

LINKEDIN Find me on LinkedIn to learn more about my career & education.

TWITTER @Bhadane_sonal

HOW CAN GRAD STUDENTS BUILD What really transforms your social media profile to outstanding is your THEIR PROFESSIONAL IDENTITIES social connections, interactions and collaborations: ON SOCIAL MEDIA? 1. Keep everyone up-to-date with your work. 2. Increase visibility of your projects or research. 3. Follow and engage with the people you are trying to reach. VOE 4. Create original, valuable and engaging content.

HOW CAN STUDENTS STRUCTURE The key is to remember you are on social media to build your brand, to THEIR TIME TO MANAGE interact with people on the topics that interest you, and to engage in COMMUNITY BUILDING ON conversations around your line of work. Manage your time based on SOCIAL MEDIA? what you want to communicate and create content regularly, while being consistent.

WHY IS A STRONG/POSITIVE We stand on the brink of a technological revolution that will fundamentally SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE AN alter the way we work, live, and relate to one another. Consider a future IMPORTANT TOOL FOR A JOB where your digital media presence is necessary for being hired. Social SEEKER? recruiting has become a new normal for employers.

HOW HAS SOCIAL MEDIA HELPED Being active on social media has helped me to grow professionally as I YOU IN DEVELOPING YOUR can find growth opportunities and connect to sources of information CAREER? directly, to further develop my knowledge and skills on different platforms.

WHAT ARE BEST PRACTICES FOR Anything you post on the internet becomes your digital imprint. I often BEING BOTH AUTHENTICALLY encourage people to verify information before I pass it along. This YOU AND PROFESSIONAL ON ensures that I prevent the spread of misinformation. Include diverse SOCIAL MEDIA? voices and be honest and transparent about your goals and credentials.

Transitioning to Employment | 77 “ If I could share one piece of experience, I would say don’t adjust to your new reality in a way that closes doors on yourself. Learn about your new country and the language because they can help navigate the challenges of resettlement, but it is also important to find relevance for your previous life experiences and work. What you have done before and where you are from are important, and it is because of those experiences that you should be valued, not despite them.

Vathsala, Policy Studies PhD Program & Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation scholar The Global Experience

International Opportunities: Points to Consider International Graduates Returning Home Staying in Canada

5 living by searching online or contacting expatriates living International there. Opportunities: Points Obtaining & maintaining employment: Many countries will require you to have an offer of to Consider employment prior to granting you a work permit. However, in some instances, you may be eligible for a Global economies are increasingly interconnected and short-term work permit, or you may enter a country as a communities are more diverse. To remain competitive volunteer. Do your research on the entrance and work and relevant in this climate, employers in Canada and permission requirements of your host country prior abroad are looking for employees who can bring an to departure. international perspective and diverse skills to the table. Each country’s immigration department will likely have a website detailing entrance and work permission requirements. You can also access information from Benefits of Working Abroad your potential host country’s embassy, consulate, or high International skills: commission in Canada.

By working abroad, you’re placing yourself in a foreign Culture shock: context and culture where you can develop your Adjusting to new cultural practices can be both exciting adaptability, openness to learning, independence, and unexpected. Keep in regular contact with friends maturity, cross-cultural communication, and colleagues back home. Seek out groups of interpersonal, and critical thinking skills. expatriates in your host country that offer familiarity, Communication skills: while also immersing yourself in your host country’s culture. Expressing yourself to people who may speak another language will be a prime opportunity to heighten both your communication and language skills. Preparing to Work Abroad This experience can also heighten your empathy and Research your destination thoroughly using: appreciation for colleagues who may be working in a language other than their mother tongue. • Travel guides

Professional network: • Social media forums • Personal connections You will likely have developed a network that spans geographical boundaries, and be the cultural bridge • Services, such as GoinGlobal or Study Abroad, which between your organization, your network contacts your university may have a subscription with both home and abroad, and opportunities existing within an international context. Learn about your destination to help manage your expectations. Find local expat groups online (e.g. Personal development: ‘Canadians in London’). Most destinations will have an informal group of Canadians like yourself that can be As you experience and learn about cultures different tapped into for local knowledge. from yours, you will increase your awareness of personal boundaries and preferences and view Travel.gc.ca is a great resource from the Canadian opportunities and challenges from a wider perspective. government with extensive information about travelling and living abroad as a Canadian.

Considerations for Working Find out if your Canadian driver’s licence will be valid in your host country, or whether you are required to hold Abroad an International Driving Permit.

Logistics: Utilize services and resources on campus:

Costs related to the initial relocation and settlement (e.g. Find out about pre-departure information sessions housing, health care) may be higher than expected, and organized by your university’s international office to learn information may not be available to you until you arrive what to consider and prepare for before leaving Canada. in your host country. You may wish to research costs of

80 | The Global Experience Plan your applications and coverage early:

Destination research, job/funding applications, and visa/ work permit applications can be time-consuming. Make sure you leave ample time to complete these steps. Get adequate insurance coverage in these essential areas:

• medical care • travel • loss/damage to property • passport validity - to gain entry to most countries, your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your arrival.

It is also advisable to have sufficient funds readily available in case you need to come home early, or experience unexpected job loss.

Preparing your finances:

Find out if you qualify as a resident of Canada while abroad, as you may have tax obligations to your country of origin. You should also notify your financial institution that you are travelling, and set up a plan for accessing your funds easily and efficiently.

By reflecting on what you hope to gain, and planning in advance this enriching experience, you will set yourself up to succeed as you embark on working abroad.

Online working abroad information resources:

• www.travel.gc.ca - Canadian government travel and tourism website • www.canada.ca - Canadians: Work and travel abroad with International Experience Canada • www.swap.ca - A not-for-profit program of the Canadian Federation of Students that help Canadians land on their feet in new cities

Online information resources for staying in Canada:

• http://www.cic.gc.ca - Start your life in Canada • www.canada.ca - Immigration and Citizenship • www.settlement.org - Settling in Ontario

The Global Experience| 81 Returning Home After Prepare for Reintegration • Reconnect with old networks and establish new ones Graduation through informational interviews. • If you are able to visit your country of origin before Returning home after having studied and lived in Canada you complete your graduate training, try to network for several years is both exciting and a readjustment. with friends, family, and former colleagues, and share Here are some tips and resources to help you your intentions of returning home and finding reintegrate into your country of origin’s labour employment opportunities to create a circle of market as a successful job seeker. individuals who will bare your job search in mind. If unable to travel back ahead of your return, reach out to your home network via email, social media and Articulate the Relevance of other virtual communication methods. Your Graduate Knowledge • Re-familiarise yourself with your country of origin’s workplace culture to ease your transition. This will and Skills help you integrate back into work more easily. You can do this by speaking about workplace norms with • Speak to your accomplishments, skills, and friends, family, and others in your network. experiences that align with the company and employer you’re targeting in your country of origin. • Build a network of colleagues who have also experienced living and studying abroad. You can • Include how your experience in Canada has given you source communities online, via websites, blogs, and cross-cultural communication skills that will be of alumni networks. Sharing commonalities in your benefit for an employer looking to expand into new experience can help you feel supported in your markets or develop international partnerships. reintegration. • Demonstrate how studying abroad has continued to hone your leadership capabilities. • Prior to departure, keep up to date with local news and developments in the labour market. This will help you to stay abreast of current events that can International effect the industry or industries you may end up Graduates: Staying in working in. Canada

Stay Connected ROUGHLY HALF OF ALL PHDS IN • Make a concerted effort tostay in touch with colleagues and friends you met while completing CANADA ARE HELD BY your graduate studies.They may become future NEWCOMERS. collaborators or business partners. - The Conference Board of Canada, 2015 • Share your reintegration experience with peers who are also returning home, to exchange constructive suggestions for transitioning. • Get involved in your university’s alumni association. • Use LinkedIn to seek out alumni and professionals based in your country of origin who work in your areas of interest. • Access support from your university’s career centre as an alumnus, where 1:1 appointments are often available via Skype.

82 | The Global Experience Q&A Voices of Experience

NAME Roger Marszalek

JOB TITLE, COMPANY Manager, Marketing, Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation

EDUCATION MBA, Global (Ryerson University)

LINKEDIN Find me on LinkedIn to learn more about my career & education abroad.

HOW DID YOUR Having my Canadian degrees on my resume helped tremendously because I was CANADIAN DEGREE fortunate to be recruited by fellow graduates from my university, of a different GIVE YOU AN UNIQUE generation. They told me they knew the pedigree of our graduates, including ADVANTAGE IN THE strong technical and excellent communication skills. It’s wonderful to see alumni GLOBAL JOB MARKET? supporting each other in this way.

HOW DID YOU Relationships, diligence, and creativity were key for me. As I started my career NAVIGATE BEING IN abroad, I established good relationships with my colleagues, led by example with my A NEW WORKPLACE day-to-day work, and attempted to think more outside the box. CULTURE ABROAD?

WHAT RESOURCES DID I was fortunate to have my employer assist me with transferring to the United States. YOU USE TO SECURE A I also conducted research online regarding working and living in the US, and how this JOB OPPORTUNITY IN differed from being employed in Canada. It also helped me tospeak to people who ANOTHER COUNTRY? had gone through a similar experience.

HOW HAS YOUR Working for a Japanese company has given me a new perspective on attention to INTERNATIONAL detail, the humble nature of the employees, and the drive to continuously improve a EXPERIENCE product or service. This has all had a favorable impact on my career development. CONTRIBUTED TO YOUR CAREER DEVELOPMENT?

WHAT IS A KEY PIECE Don’t forget about your family! Even though work consumes much of our time, keep OF ADVICE FOR your family and its priorities first.If a career opportunity presents itself in another THOSE CONSIDERING country, consult with your loved ones and see how it may align with your family’s WORKING ABROAD / values and plans. GOING ABROAD?

The Global Experience| 83 Living and Working in Canada

Many international graduates choose to remain in Canada to gain employment and begin a life here. Your international experience, graduate training, and career planning will make you a qualified candidate for the Canadian labour market.

Whether you are seeking a part-time position or looking for longer-term full time employment, the following tips will help you ease into your Canadian job search.

Understanding the Workplace Culture: • Cultural adaptation workshops hosted by your university’s career centre and/or international student • Learn subtle differences in preferred forms of formal services. and informal communication. • Free online tools such as the Hofstede Insights • Identify management approaches that are common country comparison tool. to Canadian workplaces and learn how to work with these approaches.

Preparing for the Job Search Process: • Gain research tips on labour market trends from your university’s career centre, as well as support in • Familiarise yourself with job search processes and resume and cover letter writing, professional online practices in Canada, which may differ from those in portfolios, and interview skills. your country of origin. • Consult with colleagues and recent graduates who have experience navigating the labour market and can share their own tips. • Visit Immigration and Citizenship Canada’s website to explore resources on working in Canada, including information on work permits and workplace integration.

Networking in Canada: • Attend networking events facilitated by your graduate program, faculty, career centre, and industry • Maintain your peer-to-peer connections and build associations. new ones through networking and informational interviews. • Access online networks such as LinkedIn and Ten Thousand Coffees to meet other professionals who can mentor and offer information about the present labour market. • Reach out to university mentor networks for international students.

Building Your Experience: • Find out more about experiential learning opportunities offered by your university, including • Get involved in opportunities that will add to internships and volunteering. your professional portfolio in a Canadian context - employers will want to know how you can demonstrate • Participate in graduate run initiatives within your your skills through previous work and volunteer department and faculty, such as committees, event experiences, both in Canada and abroad. planning, and teaching/graduate assistantships. • Showcase your transferable skills on your resume and cover letter as a graduate student, and how the skills you’ve gained will benefit the employer and add value to your industry.

84 | The Global Experience Whole Health at Ryerson University

Student Health and Wellness operates with a comprehensive, holistic model of health. Student AD 08 Health and Wellness includes the Medical Centre, Centre for Student Development and Counselling, and Health Promotions. Each of these areas offers support to graduate students to maintain and nurture well-being.

ryerson.ca/healthandwellness #TakeCareRU

Ryerson International Student Support

Ryerson International Student Support (ISS) is your home away from home and provides a sense of belonging and community for all students who are new to Canada. ISS works to promote student engagement and success through exceptional experiences. We will support you AD 08 as you adjust to life in Canada by connecting you to Ryerson’s community through orientation, peer social events, graduate group mentoring and family and transition support! Our licensed international student advisors have the expertise to provide immigration advice through group immigration advising, drop-in hours, and one-on-one appointments.

ISS is a unit of Student Life, a part of Student Affairs at Ryerson University. Our mission is to empower so that people can reach their full potential.

Learn more and connect with us at ryerson.ca/internationalsupport “ After having completed my graduate training in Tel-Aviv, I came to Toronto and worked as a postdoctoral fellow. To assist my transition from academia to the startup world in the Canadian labour market, I decided to pursue a post graduate certificate in data analytics and big data and predictive analytics. As I was not familiar with this landscape as an internationally trained professional, this post graduate training gave me hands-on experience, while the career education support I sought helped me through the process of finding a job. I was able to tailor my resume and cover letter, and prepare for my first interview, while also learning how to manage expectations while job searching in the public and private sectors.

Revital, Data Analytics, Big Data, and Predictive Analytics Certificate Program Career Resources

Action Words by Skill Set Templates: Cover Letters, Resumes, and CVs

6 Action Words by Skill Set

Action verbs specifically describe what you are doing, as outlined within your academic, professional, and volunteer experience. In a resume, CV, and cover letter, these verbs add significant impactand begin to concisely paint a picture of your skills, achievements and/or the results of your work.

When describing your successes and the responsibilities you held in a particular role, best practice recommends starting each line of your resume with an action word.

As a job candidate in the academic and non academic labour market, using action verbs increases the strength of your statements of what you bring to the table, by offering transparency over what you have done.

Within a graduate student and post-graduate resume, CV, and cover letter, ensure that you are always demonstrating your advanced ability and high level of achievement, as demonstrated by specific evidence presented.

Sample teaching statement using action verbs “assess”, “measure”, and “adapt”: Assessed students’ progress in critical thinking and analysis of course material by measuring students’ constructive participation in weekly tutorial discussions, effectively adapting instruction methods to make space for all students to express their own ideas freely.

ANALYTICAL Formulated Communicated Moderated SKILLS Integrated Condensed Negotiated Analyzed Investigated Consulted Outlined Ascertained Justified Contacted Presented Assessed Measured Convinced DIGITAL Compared / TECHNICAL Negotiated Corresponded SKILLS Computed Adapted Prescribed Developed Concluded Assembled Projected Directed Confirmed Built Questioned Drafted Critiqued Calculated Rated Edited Deciphered Computed Recommended Enlisted Deliberated Constructed Researched Explained Determined Converted COMMUNICATION Expressed Devised SKILLS Debugged Influenced Estimated Addressed Designed Interpreted Evaluated Advertised Determined Joined Examined Authored Engineered Listened Forecasted Collaborated

88 | Career Resources Fabricated Designed Established Coached

Installed Developed Expanded Controlled

Maintained Directed Implemented Coordinated

Operated Displayed Improved Decided

Overhauled Drew Initiated Delegated

Printed Engineered Inspired Demonstrated

Programmed Entertained Introduced Developed

Remodeled Fashioned Launched Directed

Repaired Illustrated Mobilized Eliminated

Replaced Initiated Modernized Emphasized

Solved Integrated Overhauled Empowered

Specialized Introduced Pioneered Enhanced

Strengthened Invented Presented Established

Studied Modeled Revamped Executed

Upgraded Modified Revised Facilitated

Utilized Performed Spearheaded Handled

CREATIVE INITIATIVE Suggested Headed SKILLS Accomplished Upgraded Hired Acted Achieved LEADERSHIP Hosted Adapted / MANAGEMENT Acquired SKILLS Improved Brainstormed Advised Boosted Incorporated Combined Advocated Built Initiated Composted Appointed Coordinated Increased Conceptualized Assigned Created Instituted Constructed Authorized Dedicated Led Created Attained Demonstrated Managed Customized Enriched Chaired

Career Resources | 89 Motivated Oriented Repaired Assisted

Organized Planned Relieved Balanced

Oversaw Processed Restored Collaborated

Planned PROBLEM SOLVING Revitalized Combined SKILLS Produced RESEARCH Contributed Alleviated SKILLS Recommended Cooperated Augmented Compared Recruited Cultivated Counseled Detected Revamped Encouraged Customized Examined ORGANIZATIONAL Energized SKILLS Debugged Experimented Enlisted Approved Diagnosed Explored TEACHING SKILLS: Arranged Eased Gathered Adapted Assembled Elevated Identified Advised

Budgeted Enlarged Interpreted Clarified

Calculated Extended Interviewed Coached

Communicated Centralized Finalized Investigated Coordinated Charted Fulfilled Measured Demystified Collected Generated Researched Developed

Compiled Identified Searched Enabled

Correlated Invented Standardized Encouraged Evaluated Distributed Lightened Summarized Explained Executed Procured Surveyed Facilitated

Generated Reconciled Tested Guided

Implemented Rectified TEAMWORK Informed / COLLABORATION Instructed Maintained Reduced SKILLS

Acknowledged Persuaded Monitored Refined Set Goals Amassed Organized Rehabilitated Stimulated

90 | Career Resources Appendix: Templates

6

Career Resources | 91 Templates Cover Letter - (Masters, Arts)

DAMI OLUSOGA, MA [email protected] • (416) 123-4567 • linkedin.com/in/damiolu • @damiolu

Vanessa Poller Program Manager, Children and Youth Services Ministry of Children and Youth Services 101 Bloor Street West Toronto, ON, M5S 0A1

Re: Senior Policy Analyst

Dear Ms. Poller,

With my extensive knowledge of policy and program design initiatives, political acuity, and my ambition to implement strategies and legislative frameworks to support our children and youth in Ontario, I am applying to the Senior Policy Analyst role, as posted on the Ontario Public Service careers website.

In my experience working with the Ministry of Intergovernmental Affairs from 2015-2017, I collaborated with internal and external stakeholders as a client administrator. I researched archived reports and interviewed policy analysts to consider how best the Ministry could support reforming of the elections process to enhance its fairness and integrity. I have produced concise and high quality reports including briefing materials, presentations, discussion papers, decision notes, and cabinet submissions.

Having completed my Masters of Public Policy and Administration from Ryerson University in 2018, I have additional learning and experience with the application of sound policy and programs to ensure that ministry and government strategic objectives are met. While conducting my graduate research, I effectively navigated government decision-making processes, business practices, and accountability frameworks by analyzing policy and program design options, needs assessments, and inter-jurisdictional scans.

My combined four years of work experience and graduate training has honed my ability to coordinate complex policy projects, evaluate performance frameworks, and provide effective recommendations for innovative policy changes.

I look forward to meeting with you to discuss how I can further contribute to leading edge policy and program initiatives within the Ministry of Children and Youth Services as a Senior Policy Analyst. My dedication to the advancement of provincial policies and initiatives that respond to social, political, and economic issues facing Ontario’s youth will be of great benefit to this Ministry and the communities it represents.

Sincerely,

Dami Olusoga

92 | Career Resources Cover Letter - (PhD, Community Services)

Sara Syed, PhD 54 Dunster Street, Toronto, Ontario, M6H 3V9 • (416) 555-5555 • [email protected] • linkedin.com/in/syedsy

Dr. Tina Sato Director, Community Partnerships Bolt Community Health Centre Markham, ON, L3S 2M1

Re: Research and Evaluation Coordinator

Dear Dr. Sato,

My dedication to coordinating youth development evaluation projects builds on my doctoral research on community outreach, with a focus on applying adolescent health equity models to communities and educational healthcare. After 5+ years developing my expertise in this field, I am interested in applying for the Research and Evaluation Coordinator position with Bolt Community Health Centre, as indicated in your LinkedIn post. I am confident that my background as a researcher and project coordinator, and my diverse work and volunteer experience will be essential to the effective coordination and execution of key projects and timelines.

In my role as a research assistant, under the supervision of Dr. Samuel Bingham Spencer, I designed and coordinated a research project on the topic of public health, access to education, and equity and inclusion. Our contributions to the 2016 Unicef report, Equity and Inclusion in Education: A Guide to Support Educational Planning, became the new mandate for reducing barriers to education. In addition, I also worked as a project coordinator with Access Community Health Centre while completing my graduate training, where I managed and coordinated a provincially funded youth employment program for youth facing barriers to employment. In this role, I designed and delivered career curriculum and workshops, counselled and coached marginalized youth, and developed relationships with community service providers to support youth with social assistance, mental health support, and continuing education resources.

The foundation of skills I have acquired through my professional, academic, and volunteer experiences is due to working with diverse groups of individuals and various organizations I’ve been a part of. I am enthusiastic about supporting Bolt Community Health Centre’s mission to increase accessibility to youth development services, and am confident that my knowledge, skills, and background make me a key asset to your team. I welcome the opportunity for an interview at your convenience.

Sincerely,

Sara Syed

Enclosed: Resume

Career Resources | 93 Resume - (Masters, Creative Industries)

94 | Career Resources Resume - (Masters, Science)

Laiba Farsoun 280 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, M6H 4H1 [email protected] | 416-979-5177 | linkedin.com/in/laibafarsoun I www.laibaf.com

Profile • 5+ years experience in laboratory and literary research and review, specializing in the collection, analysis, and documentation of qualitative and quantitative data. • Expertise in resolving scientific inquiries for the scientific and non scientific community as part of a collaborative and innovative environment. • Desire position in management-consulting organization requiring outstanding verbal, analytical, and teamwork skills.

Education Masters of Science, Molecular Science, Ryerson University, Toronto, 2018 Thesis: The Role of the A-beta Protein in the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s Disease Supervisor: Dr. Amanda Joyce

Bachelors of Science, Biology, University of Toronto, 2016

Professional Experience Teaching Assistant Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, 2017 - 2018 Course title: Molecular Biology [BLG 307] • Provided instructional support to twenty-five 3rd year undergraduate students in the Faculty of Science, delivering tailored instruction to meet individual student needs and learning styles in bi-weekly, two hour laboratory sessions. • Directed students to achieve cognitive and development milestones based on course learning outcomes, assessing student progress through observation, written assignments, oral presentations, and midterm examinations.

Youth Coordinator Science Outreach Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, 2016 - 2018 • Facilitated 3 science training workshops weekly, educating 15 youth, ages 9-13, on scientific and environmental topics, including fundamentals of chemistry, biology, and physics. • Designed learning outcomes to address participant understanding and application of scientific principles within each workshop, assessing comprehension through activities and experimentation. • Advocated for equity in experiential learning by ensuring equal representation of male and female program participants, as well as encouraging registration of at-risk students in the GTA, confirming 5 participants per cohort.

Community Service Representative, Graduate Council Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, 2017 - 2018 • Supported graduate student health and wellness as member of the teaching community at Ryerson, conducting and sharing research to graduate council committee on best practices for maintaining mental and physical health during peak periods in academic calendar. • Promoted and shared resources on graduate health and wellness student support, such as upcoming community building events, the Centre for Student Development and Counselling programming, and community based resources.

Professional Development and Certifications Professional Development in Teaching Program Learning and Teaching Office, Ryerson University, 2016 - 2018 • Completion of level 1 and 2 certificate programs, with training in student engagement and classroom inclusivity, mentorship, and teaching.

Career Resources | 95 Resume - (Phd, Liberal Arts)

ABI DEMIR, PhD [email protected] (416) 123-4567 linkedin.com/in/demira @demirabi

Profile Summary

• Combined 5+ years researching, presenting, and consulting on equitable settlement policies for newcomers, including distribution of up-to-date pamphlets on settlement resources for over 50 organizations working in this community. • Engaged in application of research through the design and delivery of training to cohorts supporting newcomer integration into the city of Toronto. • Managed multiple project timelines, including 300 page dissertation, publications, and consulting deadlines, ensuring deliverables were on time, within scope, and to budget. • Strong technical skills with proficiency in MS Office, SPSS, SAS, HTML.

Education

PhD Policy Studies, Interdisciplinary Programs Ryerson University 2018 M.A. Economics McGill University 2010 B.A. Economics, Faculty of Arts Queen’s University 2008

Professional Experience

Course Instructor, Policy and Public Administration Ryerson University 2017-Present • Design, plan, and organize orientation to socioeconomic impacts of public policies, such as proposed legislation, taxes, services, and regulations. • Develop course materials, including handouts, visual presentations, and e-learning modules to increase accessibility of learning. • Facilitate student development by crafting learning outcome rubrics to monitor and evaluate modes of student understanding and application. • Liaise with faculty stakeholders to review program goals annually, and develop curriculum that reflects new and impactful research and literature in the field. • Select, order, and issue books, materials, and supplies for course and projects.

Teaching Assistant, Department of Economics Ryerson University 2016-2017 • Led 3 weekly tutorials for 25 students in 3rd year Canadian economics and policy course. • Reviewed and assessed teaching aids, including visuals, lesson plans, and e-learning modules according to AODA guidelines to ensure access to learning for students with disabilities. • Assigned readings and lecture materials for group participatory discussions to encourage active listening and comprehension via peer-to-peer learning. • Evaluated examinations and assignments based on course learning outcomes, determining students’ comprehension of course topics and those that required further review in tutorials. • Met with course director bi-monthly to review instructional content, teaching methods, and student evaluations, and recommendations for course revisions.

Demir, 1

96 | Career Resources Resume - (Phd, Liberal Arts) (contd.)

ABI DEMIR, PhD [email protected] (416) 123-4567 linkedin.com/in/demira @demirabi

Policy Analyst, Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration Ontario Public Service 2012-2013 • Evaluated equitable settlement policies for newcomers and collaborated with internal and external partners, including policy advisors and settlement agency managers, to implement services in all agencies, including housing and childcare, school registration, English and French language programs, employment services, and information about healthcare and social services. • Prepared 6 policy reports that assessed legislation from 2012 - 2013 on economic guidelines for the permanent residence program, to evaluate impact analysis and risk assessment of multi-year funding. • Created and delivered presentations to 30+ employees on intelligence relating to fraudulent documentation and irregular immigration activities.

Administrative Officer, Office of Admissions McGill University 2010-2012 • Supported recruitment and outreach efforts, including Diversity Recruitment Program, 1 open house, and 2 information sessions, to educate prospective students on McGill University’s undergraduate programs, academic resources, and professional development programming. • Designed marketing strategies to advertise programs to 12 high school graduating students at 20+ public schools. • Analyzed trends in applicant survey data between 2005-2010 to determine best practices around recruitment and outreach efforts, providing feedback to manager of Office of Admissions. • Provided assistance to 300+ prospective undergraduate students on their application process during summer months.

Research Assistant McGill University 2008-2010 • Conducted qualitative research for publication, “Canadian Drug Policy and a Review of Inequities”, including a literature review on crime, healthcare, poverty, and the aging population. • Collaborated with co-authors in researching healthcare statistics and a 2 year environmental scan of Canadian drug usage among newcomer populations. • Developed and implemented research quality control procedures, to ensure accuracy and validity of data sourced, including SPSS statistics software.

Leadership Experience

Board Member, The Centre for Equality Rights Ryerson University 2018 • Member of a 15-person executive assisting with organizing 5 panels, 7 skills workshops, 4 employer information sessions, and 2 social events, increasing total number of yearly events by 40% from previous year. • Facilitated discussion of international student challenges by organizing 3 events focusing on topics of equity, diversity, and inclusion.

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Career Resources | 97 Resume - (Phd, Liberal Arts) (contd.)

ABI DEMIR, PhD [email protected] (416) 123-4567 linkedin.com/in/demira @demirabi

Volunteer Coordinator Sojourn House 2015 - 2017 • Met with and provided comfort to newly arrived refugees, sharing information about settlement services and programs available, while welcoming each new resident into an inclusive environment. • Facilitated group workshops, in partnership with Women’s College Hospital Crossroads Clinic to explain and provide accessibility to healthcare for residents, avoiding potential health-care risks and complications that may be otherwise undiagnosed or unknown.

Volunteer West Park Healthcare Care 2014 - 2015 • Supported client facing front desk staff by filing incoming patient confidential information and providing a tour of healthcare facilities.

Professional Development

Mini-MBA course McGill University 2013 • Developed fundamental concepts in business through intensive five-week course based on The 10-Day MBA by Steven Silbiger. • Actively participated in case discussions led by faculty from Harvard Business School and leading industry professionals, resulting in tailored business strategies that spoke to the needs and requirements of the cases presented.

Publications and Presentations

• Publications: 4 refereed journal articles and 1 book chapter. • Conferences: 8 presented papers, nationally and internationally. • Invited Lectures: 2 invited course lectures at Ryerson University.

Digital Media

• Blog contributor, www.newcomersandsettlment.ca. 2013-2016 • Authored 8 articles on topics of immigration, settlement, resources, changes in government policy, and transitioning to Canada.

Affiliations

Member, Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI) 2015-present

Demir, 3

98 | Career Resources Resume - (PhD, Engineering)

Mikayla Roberts, P.Eng., Ph.D 350 Victoria Street ● Toronto, ON ● M5B 2K3 416 - 979 - 5000 ● [email protected] ● www.linkedin.com/in/mikaylaroberts/

Professional Summary

• Professional engineer and multidisciplinary researcher with 7 years experience in product development, computer processing units, and customer relations. • Combination of business acumen with technical, hands-on practice in computer networks, defining product lines, and software and hardware development. • Diverse expertise in image processing, data visualization and computer processor units. • Experience presenting to small (10) and large (200) audiences. • Experience in leading research and project teams in Canada and internationally. • Certified with the Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO).

Core Competencies

• Computer Networks • C/C++/Python • Project Management • CPU Architecture • HW/SW Design • Leadership • Software and Hardware • R&D Prototype Cycle • Communication Development & Optimization

Professional Experience

Graduate Researcher Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Ryerson University, Toronto, 2016 - 2018 • Provided extensive research on adaptive systems and business processing models for semantic technologies and worked closely with department faculty on delivering NSERC funded projects on formalizing interactive features for model configurations.

Teaching Assistant Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Ryerson University, Toronto, 2014 - 2016 • Mentored and advised computer engineering graduate students within large-enrollment introductory service courses (Advanced Computer Networks and Systems Management), effectively supervising computer laboratory experiments and applying pedagogy techniques to enhance student engagement.

Product Manager & Strategic Planner CPU Group, Intel, Toronto, 2012 - 2014 • Defined Intel’s CORE ™ CPU product lines for servers, clients, consumer electronics and embedded devices. • Led a multidisciplinary team of 12 engineers and 6 account specialists to develop product strategy, target segments, value propositions, and UX features. • Created technical materials including product requirements, user documentation and support applications. • Provided feedback to the engineering team and conducted 8-10 code reviews weekly.

Roberts, 1

Career Resources | 99 Resume - (PhD, Engineering) (contd.)

Application Engineer Product Lifecycle Management Unit, Siemens, Germany, 2008 - 2012 • Applications development and extensive software programming (specifically C/C++ & Python) in Windows, Linux and RT embedded environments. • Performed application builds and deployments using Atlassian Bamboo CI server. • Increased performance speed of networks by 60x. • Delivered successful benchmarks and client demos at international forums and conferences. • Defined the project management lifecycle used by a team of 8 engineers and 4 product managers to support over 50 clients globally. • Worked with strategic global software vendors on proof-of-concept projects to improve Siemens’ systems architecture.

Computer Processor Intern CPU Design Unit, Bosch, Germany, 2007-2008 • Assisted Senior CPU Design with global CPU development in all aspects of backend design and process. • Used CAD tool extensively to simulate logic behavior and circuit performance to determine the design of next generation circuit solutions. • Worked closely with design teams and architects to implement the low-level RTL design to ensure overall good functionality of the chip.

Education

2014-2018 PhD - Doctor of Philosophy, Computer Systems Engineering, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada 2011-2012 M.Eng - Master of Engineering, Electronic Systems & Engineering Management, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany 2004-2008 B.Eng - Electrical Engineering, Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences, Germany

Publications

• Parker, C., Roberts, M. (2018), Systems Engineering in Quality Process Modeling, International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, vol. 3, no. 3, pp. 1-9 • Roberts, M., Thompson, N. (2017), Design and Performance Investigation for the Optical Networks at High Data Rate, Journal of Electrical Engineering and Electronic Technology, vol. 6, no.4, pp. 27-41 • Alexander, E., Roberts, M. (2015), Adaptive Sequential Importance Sampling Technique for Composite Power Systems, Journal of Computer Science and Engineering Technology, vol. 12, no.6, pp. 125-142 • Baker. L, Roberts, M. (2012), Methods and Techniques to Quality Function Deployment (QFD) and Framework Optimization, IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics: Systems, vol. 97, no. 7, pp. 101- 118

Conferences & Speaking Engagements

• Presenter, Systems Engineering Management Using Transdisciplinary Quality System Development, International Conference on Electrical, Computer and Systems Engineering (ICECSE) 2018, Toronto • Featured Speaker, Using Technology to Provide Global Solutions, Microsoft Inspire 2017, Washington, D.C.

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100 | Career Resources Curriculum Vitae - (PhD, Science)

MAHMOUD KIRSTAN (416) 111-2222 • [email protected] • linkedin.com/in/mahmoudkirstan • @mkirstan

EDUCATION

PhD, Computer Science, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, 2012-2017 Thesis Title: Genetic Based Substitution Techniques for Audio Steganography A novel genetic-concept-based algorithm is proposed for fragile audio watermarking to reduce the distortion of least significant bits substitution and consequently improve the peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) and increase the payload of results. The result of testing shows that in comparison with ordinary substitution techniques and other presented techniques, the payload is considerably increased and PSNR (as an indicator of imperceptibility) is noticeably raised. Master’s Degree, Computer Engineering, Software, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran, 2005-2007 Dissertation Title: Data Hiding in Audio: Techniques Comparison and Selection Bachelor’s Degree, Computer Engineering, Software, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran, 2000-2004

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Visiting Lecturer Information Security Department, Advanced Informatics School, University of Indonesia, Indonesia 2017-2018

• Taught groups of 25-30 Master students on the subjects of: security assessments; security architecture; threat assessments; secure cloud computing and cybercrime in an engaging manner, leading to strong student learning outcomes. • Creatively designed 2 graduate levels courses, ensuring content alignment with industry trends and needs, resulting in high levels of student satisfaction as indicated on anonymous satisfaction surveys. Taught Subjects: Network Security, Digital Forensics and Investigation, Information Assurance and Security

Teaching Assistant Computer Science, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, 2016-2017

• Mentored and advised computer science undergraduate students in a large-enrollment introductory course, utilizing appropriate technology enhancements and pedagogy techniques to enhance student engagement. • Designed lectures and small group work, as well as co-ordinated weekly readings for a cohort of 50 students in an organized and efficient manner to ensure effective delivery of course material.

Taught Courses: Network Security, Digital Forensics and Investigation, Information Assurance and Security, Operating System Security, Advanced Cryptography, Network and Telecommunication, Cryptography Technologies, Introduction to Advanced Computer Applications, Introduction to Programming I. Designed Course: Information Assurance Architecture and Technologies; Wireless Infrastructure Security.

Teaching Assistant Computer Science Department, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, 2014-2015 Taught Subjects: Algorithms Design, Artificial Intelligence

Career Resources | 101 Curriculum Vitae - (PhD, Science) (contd.)

MAHMOUD KIRSTAN (416) 111-2222 • [email protected] • linkedin.com/in/mahmoudkirstan • @mkirstan

Teaching Assistant Computer Science Department, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, 2013-2014 Taught Subjects: Database, Data Structures, and Operating Systems

Teaching Assistant Computer Science Department, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, 2012-2013 Taught Subjects: Database, Data Structures, Web Pages Design, Advanced Programming, Data Storage and Retrieval

Computer Tutor and Examiner Iran Technical & Vocational Training Organization, Najaf Abad, Iran, 2005-2006 Taught Courses: Windows, DOS, Network, AutoCAD, Programing, MS-Office, Internet

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Researcher Digital Forensics Department, University of Indonesia, Indonesia, 2017-2018 • Development of proficiency test for the fields of computer forensics, image analysis, video analysis, and audio analysis.

Researcher Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Indonesia, 2017-2018 • Development of digital audio information hiding systems for high-embedding-capacity applications.

Researcher Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, 2013-2015 • Digital watermarking for e-passport tamper detection project • Industry and academic collaboration between software R&D department of Currix Corporation and Faculty of Science, Ryerson University.

PROJECTS

Analysis and Assessment of Bluetooth Vulnerabilities in High End Cars Research University Grant, Foreign Academic Visitor, University of Indonesia, Indonesia, 2017

A Novel Model to Enhance the Cloud Authentication Security by Using Watermarking Methods Research University Grant, Tier 1., Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada, 2015

Appraising the Potential Risk of Digital Heritage Disaster Management Resources Research Flagship Grant, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada, 2014

A Novel Image Watermarking Software for E-Passport Authentication Prototype Development Research Grant Scheme, 2013

102 | Career Resources Curriculum Vitae - (PhD, Science) (contd.)

MAHMOUD KIRSTAN (416) 111-2222 • [email protected] • linkedin.com/in/mahmoudkirstan • @mkirstan

CERTIFICATES

Certificate, “Certified Ethical Hacker”, EC-Council, Indonesia, 2018 Certificate, “Outcome Based Education”, Teaching Office, University of Indonesia, Indonesia, 2017

GRANTS

Project Leader Research University Grant, A Watermarking Tool for E-Passports, University of Indonesia, Indonesia, 2018

Researcher Research University Grant, Foreign Academic Visitor. Analysis and Assessment of Bluetooth Vulnerabilities in High End Cars. University of Indonesia, Indonesia, 2018

Researcher Exploratory Research Grant Scheme. Efficient Digital Image Authentication and Tamper Localization Technique Using LSB Watermarking, Ministry Higher Education, Indonesia, 2017

Researcher Research University Grant, Flagship Grant. Appraising the Potential Risk of Digital Heritage Disaster Management Resources, Ministry of Higher Education, Indonesia, 2017

Researcher Fundamental Research Grant Scheme. Subjective Assessment Model of Audio Watermarking. Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, 2015

Researcher Research University Grant, Tier 1. A Novel Model to Enhance the Cloud Authentication Security by Using Watermarking Methods, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, 2014

AWARDS AND HONOURS

Campus Student Teaching Award, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada, 2015

Research Student Grant, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Iran, 2008 Project: Development of of Digital Audio Information Hiding Systems for High-Embedding Capacity Applications

PATENTS

System, Program and Method for Hiding Messages, Issued Dec 1st, 2008, #2008 1249

Career Resources | 103 Curriculum Vitae - (PhD, Science) (contd.)

MAHMOUD KIRSTAN (416) 111-2222 • [email protected] • linkedin.com/in/mahmoudkirstan • @mkirstan

PUBLICATIONS, MULTIMEDIA SECURITY JOURNALS

• Chandler, S. S., Kirstan, M., B.Menafi (2017), PSW Statistical LSB Image Steganalysis.Multimedia Tools and Applications, 1-31 • Kirstan M., & B. Menafi, (2015). Genetic Algorithm for Fragile Audio Watermarking. Telecommunication Systems

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES

Seventh International Conference on Informatics and Applications, November 5 - 7, 2018, Takamatsu, Japan Fourth International Conference on Computer Science, Computer Engineering and Social Media, Amman, Jordan, May 16-18, 2017 17th International Conference on Algorithms and Architectures for Parallel Processing Granada, Spain, December 14-16, 2016 Fourth International Conference on Informatics & Applications, Takamatsu, Japan, 20-22 July, 2015

INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEES

Member, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), 2013-Present Member, Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), 2012-Present Member, Planetary Scientific Research Centre (PSRC), 2012-Present

REFERENCES

Dr. Sandra Bowman Dr. Maryam Rafaie Chair, Computer Science Department Chair, Computer Science Ryerson University University of Tehran, Iran Toronto, ON [email protected] [email protected] 1-98-21-667-4549 416-898-5656 Dr. Mehrdad Hashri Dr. Suhil Patel Graduate Program Director, Graduate Program Director, Computer Science Computer Science Department University of Tehran, Iran Ryerson University [email protected] [email protected] 1-98-21-667-4545

104 | Career Resources Curriculum Vitae - (PhD, Arts)

Dagomar Degroot (Address: 1234 Prospect Street, Washington, DC Email: [email protected] Web:

Education:

2014 PhD, History. York University. Dissertation Title: “The Frigid Golden Age: Experiencing Climate Change in the Dutch Republic, 1560-1720.” Doctoral Supervisor: Richard C. Hoffmann. • Nominated for Faculty of Graduate Studies and American Society for Environmental History (ASEH) awards. • Completed comprehensive exams in Environmental History, Modern European History, and the History of Science and Medicine.

2008 MA, History. McMaster University. Major Research Paper: “‘Go Raise Hell:’ Prejudice, Ignorance, and the Failures of American Support for the Afghan Mujahedin.”

2007 BA, Joint Honours. History and English, McMaster University.

Publications:

Books: 2018 The Frigid Golden Age: Climate Change, the Little Ice Age, and the Dutch Republic, 1560-1720. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2018.

Refereed Journal Articles:

2018 “Climate Change and Society from the Fifteenth Through the Eighteenth Centuries.” WIREs Climate Change Advanced Review, forthcoming.

2016 “‘A catastrophe happening in front of our very eyes:’ The Environmental History of a Comet Crash on Jupiter.” Environmental History 22:1 (2016): 23-49.

2015 “‘Les bois engendrent les frimas et les gelées:’ comprendre le climat en Nouvelle-France” With co-author Colin Coates. Revue d’histoire de l’Amérique française 68:3-4 (2015): 197-219.

2014 “‘Never such weather known in these seas:’ Climatic Fluctuations and the Anglo-Dutch Wars of the Seventeenth Century, 1652–1674.” Environment and History 20:2 (May 2014): 239-273

Degroot, 1

Career Resources | 105 Curriculum Vitae - (PhD, Arts) (contd.)

Reviews:

2018 Neil M. Maher, Apollo in the Age of Aquarius. Cambridge: Harvard University. Press, 2017. Canadian Journal of History. Commissioned.

2017 Joshua P. Howe, Behind the Curve: Science and the Politics of Global Warming. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2014. Environmental History 23:1 (2018): 206-208.

Articles at HistoricalClimatology.com:

2017 “Will Climate Change Cause Conflict in the Arctic? Searching for Answers in The Past.”

2016 “Volcanoes, Comet Crashes, and Changes in the Sun: How Sixth-Century Cooling Transformed the World.”

2016 “Did the Spanish Empire Change Earth’s Climate?”

2015 “Assessing the Future During COP21.”

2015 “Lessons from the Storm that Wasn’t.”

2015 “Whatever Happened to the Global Warming Pause?”

Additional Publications:

2018 “Some societies flourished in the Little Ice Age. There are lessons for us now.” Washington Post.

2017 “How a comet crash on Jupiter may lead us to mine asteroids near Earth.” OUPBlog, blog of Oxford University Press.

2015 “Towards a Climate History of the Solar System. The Otter, blog of the Network in Canadian History and Environment (NiCHE).

Awards and Honours:

2014 Travel grant to attend and present a paper at the annual conference of the ASEH, Washington, USA. ASEH. $500.

2014 -16 Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Postdoctoral Fellowship. $81,000.

2014 Traditional Fulbright Scholar Award. $12,500 (declined).

2012-13 Ontario Graduate Scholarship, Government of Ontario. $15,000.

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106 | Career Resources Curriculum Vitae - (PhD, Arts) (contd.)

Interviews with Journalists:

2018 Interviewed by Emma Shortis for “The Frigid Golden Age,” New Books Network Podcast.

2017 Interviewed by Sadie Bergen for “Getting Warmer: Historians on Climate Change and the Anthropocene,” Perspectives on History, newspaper of the American Historical Association.

2016 Interviewed by Isaiah Seibert for “Weathering the Storm: Climate Policy in D.C.,” The Georgetown Voice.

2016 Interviewed by Jeremy Deaton for “When Climate Change Sparked Wars: The Little Ice Age,” LiveScience.com.

Invited Lectures:

2018 Environmental Trends and Short-Termism in Business Strategy. The Economist Sustainability Summit, London, UK.

2017 “Conflict and Climate Change: Lessons from the Little Ice Age.” Institute at Brown for Environment and Society, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.

2017 “Collapse! What Collapse?”. Workshop at Yale University, New Haven, USA.

2017 “‘One storm, one flood, one fire destroyed it all: ” Cultural Responses to Climate Change in the Seventeenth-Century Dutch Republic.” New York University Atlantic Workshop, New York, USA.

Conference Activity:

2018 “Bowhead Whale Hunting in a Cooling Arctic, 1610-1640.” ASEH conference, Riverside, USA.Panel chair, “New Perspectives on Climate and History in the Little Ice Age.”

2017 “Whaling and War in a Changing Arctic, 1610-1640.” ESEH conference, Zagreb, Croatia.2017 Co-convener, “Historical Climate Reconstruction and Impacts of the CommonEra.” PAGES Fifth Open Science Meeting, Zaragoza, Spain.

2017 Organized panel, “The Final Frontier (of Environmental History): Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Environments Beyond Earth,” for ASEH conference, Chicago, USA.Paper, “‘Red Earth: An Environmental History of Mars” accepted as part of panel.

2017 “Climate Change, Herring, and Supernovae: How Environmental Changes Influenced Early Modern Empires.” American Historical Association conference, Denver, USA.

2016 Organized panel, “‘A Climate History of the Causes and Conduct of War,” for ASEH conference, Seattle, USA. Paper, “Climate Change and the Eighty Years’ War, 1568-1648” accepted as part of panel.

2016 “So, You Want to Be an Environmental Historian?” ASEH conference, Seattle,USA.2015 “Climate Change and the Water History of the Dutch Republic, 1560-1720.”International Water History conference, Delft, Netherlands. Degroot, 3

Career Resources | 107 Curriculum Vitae - (PhD, Arts) (contd.)

Teaching Experience:

2017 Course Instructor, Georgetown University. Designed and taught two seven-week Modules, “Global Warming: Causes, Consequences, and Controversy”.

2016 Course Instructor, Georgetown University. Designed and taught course, “Mars and the Moon in Science, Science Fiction, and Society”.

2015 Course Instructor, Georgetown University. Designed and taught graduate course, “The Environmental History of the Little Ice Age”.

2014 Course Instructor, York University. Designed and taught course, “A Global History of Climate Change”.

2013 Course Instructor, York University. Designed and taught course, “Warfare in Early Modern Europe”.

2012 Teaching Assistant, York University. “Medieval and Early Modern Europe”.

2011 Teaching Assistant, York University. “Medieval and Early Modern Europe”.

2008 Teaching Assistant, McMaster University. “Europe from the French Revolution to the End of the Second World War”.

Service to Profession:

2017- present Founder and Director, Tipping Points Project. Secured funding; established digital map and website; selected, listed, and described climate reconstruction and forecasting tools; wrote articles and edited student articles that clearly explain the local consequences of past and present climate change for a broad audience.

2016- present Participant, Andrew W. Mellon Sawyer Seminar: “Approaching the Anthropocene: Global Culture and Planetary Change”. Engage in biweekly discussions relevant to the concept of the Anthropocene, present research and organize workshops.

2016-17 Secretary, International Consortium of Environmental History Organizations (ICEHO).Designed, developed, and now manage new website (http://ICEHO. org). Recruited and now lead volunteer team to create and update social media accounts. Document and help organize meetings and outreach.

2015- present Founder and Host, Climate History Podcast. (HistoricalClimatology.com/Interview)

2011-14 Contributing Editor. Active History (ActiveHistory.ca)

2010-11 Treasurer. York University Graduate History Students Association. Developed annual budget; oversaw all financial transactions for Canada’s largest Graduate History Students Association and the associated New Frontiers conference; attended bi-weekly meetings of the Graduate History Students’ Association as a voting member of the executive.

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108 | Career Resources Curriculum Vitae - (PhD, Arts) (contd.)

Languages:

English: Reading (Native), Speaking (Native), Writing (Native). Dutch: Reading (Native), Speaking (Native), Writing (Native). French: Reading (With Dictionary). German: Reading (With Dictionary).

Research Interests:

Climate history, historical climatology, and paleoclimatology. Environmental history of outer space. Interdisciplinary models, methods, and best practices. Medieval and early modern world history. Digital and public environmental sciences and humanities.

Professional Affiliations:

American Historical Association (AHA). American Society for Environmental History (ASEH). Climate History Network (CHN). International Consortium of Environmental History Organizations (ICEHO). Network in Canadian History and Environment (NiCHE). Past Global Changes (PAGES). War and Environment Network.

Degroot, 5

Career Resources | 109 • Ryerson Student Union’s Graduate Council Get Involved! • Graduate Course Unions

Campus Resources for Thriving in Graduate School Graduate Students What is the best way to balance academic and interpersonal needs, manage stress, and avoid imposter The Ryerson Career & Co-Op Centre (RCCC) supports syndrome when considering career planning? our graduate students and their career development for both academic and industry based career pathways. • Student Learning Support’s Graduate Student Support • Centre for Student Development and Counselling In addition to our own programming, we collaborate with departments across campus to provide: • International Student Services • Ryerson University Library & Archives Services for • Transferable and academic skill building and Graduate Students articulation • Experiential learning and employer networking events to broaden knowledge of multiple career paths • Strategic tools in self sufficiently accessing and interpreting labour market information • Motivation, optimism, and resilience through the career planning process

Career Planning

Receive 1:1 and group career advising at the RCCC, with specific focus on graduate student and alumni needs:

• 1:1 graduate level advising • Graduate Career Compass • Job search, resume, interview, networking, personal branding, professionalism workshops, & more • Magnet: Matchmaking for the Marketplace

Building Transferable and Academic Skills

Acquire skills that make you stand out! Participate in co-curricular activities and hone your interpersonal skills. Document it:

• Graduate Studies’ Future Smart: Essential Professional Skills for Graduate Students program • RU Leadership’s Level Up: Student Experience Blueprint program • Learning and Teaching Office’sProfessional Development in Teaching program

Experiential Learning

Get involved in high-impact experiences that build relevant industry skills, networks, and career pathways:

• RCCC’s Industrial Insights and Navigating Networks program (IINN) • Ryerson Zone Learning

110 | Career Resources ISBN 978-1-926769-92-9

© 2018 Ryerson University, Toronto ISBN 978-1-926769-92-9

© 2018 Ryerson University, Toronto